Piper PA-28-140 accident near Irby, Washington, August 14, 2004
On August 14, 2004 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N4195J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Irby, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for unknown reasons. Trees and rough/uneven terrain were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2004 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Irby, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N4195J · no longer on the register · serial 28-22536
- 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 he was attempting to land on the private dirt airstrip which is about 1,500 feet in length and 25 feet wide with surrounding hilly terrain. The first landing attempt resulted in a go-around due to the aircraft altitude and airspeed were too high on final approach. During the second attempt, the pilot stated that he was unsure if the landing gear touched the surface before the end of the airstrip and the initiation of the go-around. The pilot stated that when he pushed in the throttle to go-around, the engine produced no power. The pilot lowered the nose of the airplane, however the airspeed decreased and the aircraft collided with the terrain and trees. During the on-site inspection of the engine and subsequent engine run, no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 432 hours in all; 416 in this make and model; 432 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 12, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,668 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 2004; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 63S Colville WA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: Odessa WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from MWH, 20 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.
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.