Amateur-built Oneil Glassair II-S accident near Richland, Washington, October 1, 2006
On October 1, 2006 at about 8:20 pm local time, a amateur-built Oneil Glassair II-S, registered N204BL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richland, Washington (Richland Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of partial engine power for undetermined reasons during the initial climb after takeoff. Trees were a factor during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 2006 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Richland, Washington · Richland Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Oneil Glassair II-S
- Registration
- N204BL · registry record · serial WJO-2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After takeoff and reaching an altitude of 1,000 feet above the ground, the engine surged and a reduction of power was observed; attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. The pilot decided to attempt a return to the airport; however, he elected to land in an adjacent field after determining he would not be able to make the runway. Subsequent impact with trees resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. A post-accident engine run did not reveal any anomalies which would have precluded normal operations. The reason for the partial loss of power could not be determined.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 633 hours in all; 155 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 558 as pilot in command; 120 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 155 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2002; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RLD Richand WA at 8:20 pm
- Destination: RLD Richand WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 4,009 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PAC, 7 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.
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.