Pilatus B4-PC11AF accident near Enumclaw, Washington, April 27, 2003
On April 27, 2003 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Pilatus B4-PC11AF (glider), registered N159AS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Enumclaw, Washington (Bergseth Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Contributing factors were the crosswind/tailwind conditions and the trees which the glider impacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2003 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Enumclaw, Washington · Bergseth Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pilatus B4-PC11AF · all B4-PC11AFs on the register
- Registration
- N159AS · registry record · serial 262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider pilot departed under tow from runway 28 at the turf/dirt airstrip under winds reported as calm to 5 knots from the west. After encountering turbulence the pilot re-entered the pattern and set up for an approach and landing on runway 10. The aviation surface weather observations for a number of sites located north and west of the airstrip reported generally northwesterly winds ranging from 8 to 11 knots at the surface. The pilot rolled onto final in a 5 degree right angling approach which he attempted to correct with the application of left rudder and aileron just before touchdown. The glider did not respond and subsequently touched down with the nose angled about 10-15 degrees right of the centerline. The glider then rolled off the south side of the runway impacting trees. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft at the time of the event.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 95 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 95 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 6, 2001
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,094 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2003; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 770 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WN76 Enumclaw WA at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 2,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from SEA, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N159AS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA03LA073.