Piper PA-20 accident near North Bend, Washington, April 29, 2004
On April 29, 2004 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N7631K, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Bend, Washington (Bandera State airport). 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 aircraft control during the landing roll. A rough landing surface and tailwind gusts were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2004 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- North Bend, Washington · Bandera State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N7631K · registry record · serial 20-450
- 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 while in flight, he heard a "flapping sound" and since he was near an airstrip, he decided to land to check the aircraft. The pilot stated that when he was abeam the windsock, which is located near mid-field, he noted that the sock was limp. Since he was already on the downwind for runway 26, he continued in the pattern for landing. The pilot reported that the aircraft was a little high on final approach, so he slipped the aircraft to attain the correct altitude. Just prior to touchdown, the pilot felt a tailwind gust which pushed the aircraft. The pilot continued the landing and the aircraft touched down about one-third of the way down the airstrip. The aircraft rolled for a short distance then became airborne again, subsequently touching down about three-quarters of the way down the airstrip. During the landing roll, the pilot stated that, "...a combination of rough field, tailwind, and braking led to the tail coming up past the point of no return, and on her back we went..." The aircraft then nosed over and came to rest inverted. The wind gusts were reported by the pilot as from the east, with gusts of 8 to 12 knots.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 616 hours in all; 235 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 501 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 21, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,102 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 31, 2004; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNT Renton WA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 4W0 North Bend WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,344 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.