Piper PA-28-180 accident near Oak Harbor, Washington, July 19, 2001
On July 19, 2001 at about 2:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N4231T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oak Harbor, Washington (Whidbey Island Nas-Ault airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate remedial action while on final approach. The encounter with wake turbulence was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2001 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Oak Harbor, Washington · Whidbey Island Nas-Ault · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4231T · no longer on the register · serial 28-7205107
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident aircraft was sequenced in the pattern with a Navy P-3 (Lockheed 4-engine) aircraft that was doing touch-and-go landings. While the accident aircraft was on short final, the aircraft rolled violently to the right about 60 to 90 degrees. The pilot attempted to recover from the roll, however, during the maneuver, the right wing struck the runway surface. The aircraft touched down, collapsing the nose gear. The aircraft slid approximately 60 feet before coming to rest on the runway's edge.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 114 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 47 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 23, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,151 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 21, 2001; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWT Bremerton WA at 1:15 am
- Destination: Oak Harbor WA
- Runway 25, 8,000 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,500 ft; a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 2:03 am from NUW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.