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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2003 · about 11:30 pm local time · cases in 2003
- Place
- Enumclaw, Washington · Bergseth Field · cases near this airport · 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 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N159AS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N159AS on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Pilatus B-4 37 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Pilatus 403 aircraft on the register
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bergseth Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Washington 2,713 since 1982 · 361 in the last ten years
- Washington 10,663 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N159AS 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA03LA073.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.