Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 accident near Newman Lake, Washington, July 17, 2003
On July 17, 2003 at about 3:00 am local time, a Great Lakes 2T-1A-2, registered N16GL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newman Lake, Washington (Ellerport Airport). It was a personal 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 failure to maintain clearance from an object while on final approach for landing. Trees and inadequate visual lookout were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2003 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Newman Lake, Washington · Ellerport Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 · all 2T-1A-2s on the register
- Registration
- N16GL · registry record · serial 0772
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that forward visibility from the rear seat is limited during the flare and he could not see the approach end of the runway. While on final approach and starting the flare, the aircraft collided with an approximate eight foot tall tree located about 100 feet from the approach end of the runway. The aircraft yawed to the left and descended to the ground. When it touched down, it ground looped and subsequently nosed over.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,464 hours in all; 475 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,218 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 29, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 809 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 2002; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO360-B1G6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WN54 Newman Lake WA at 2:30 am
- Destination: WN54 Newman Lake WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from SFF, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N16GL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.