Cosmos Phase II accident near Bandera, Washington, June 20, 2004
On June 20, 2004 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cosmos Phase II, registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near Bandera, Washington (Bandera State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an airport sign during the landing roll. Inadequate compensation for the wind gust and the sign were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2004 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bandera, Washington · Bandera State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cosmos Phase II · all Phase IIs on the register
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the landing was uneventful, however, during the landing roll a sudden gust of wind from the right pushed the aircraft toward the left side of the runway and the "Welcome to Bandera" sign. The aircraft struck the sign, and shortly after the aircraft came to rest, the pilot heard a "whoomp" sound followed by the start of a fire. The pilot released his seatbelt and exited the aircraft sustaining serious burns to his lower legs and feet. The aircraft was then consumed by the fire. The pilot reported that he believed that the fuel tank was ruptured when he collided with the sign and traveled over the rough terrain which splattered fuel onto the hot section of the engine.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 860 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AWO Arlington WA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 4W0 Bandera 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: 61°F (16°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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG 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.