Piper PA-28-161 accident near Twisp, Washington, April 12, 2008
On April 12, 2008 at about 6:57 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N3051W, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Twisp, Washington (Twisp Muni 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
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a ground obstacle while taxiing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 2008 · about 6:57 pm local time
- Place
- Twisp, Washington · Twisp Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N3051W · registry record · serial 28-8116276
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot collided with a post while taxiing the airplane to a tie down area after landing at the uncontrolled airport. The pilot reported he was taxiing down a narrow taxiway bordered by hangars when the "...nose steering drifted towards the left..." The pilot reported that he attempted to compensate; however, the airplane collided with the post resulting in structural damage to the airplane's left wing. The post was located adjacent to a hangar approximately 27 feet west of the taxiway centerline. After colliding with the post, the pilot taxied the airplane to the designated tie down area.
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
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Pole › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,120 hours in all; 920 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S36 Kent WA
- Destination: 2S0 Twisp WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 2,701 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.