Piper PA-28-236 accident near Orting, Washington, December 7, 2007
On December 7, 2007 at about 2:10 am local time, a Piper PA-28-236, registered N4388P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orting, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering. A contributing factor was the dark night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 2007 · about 2:10 am local time
- Place
- Orting, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-236 · all PA-28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N4388P · no longer on the register · serial 28-8511006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instrument rated commercial pilot was on a visual flight rules (VFR) night flight over a sparsely populated area. The accident site was about 8.8 miles from the destination airport. Wreckage and impact signatures were consistent with a right bank, high-speed impact with trees and terrain. The airplane was mostly consumed by a postimpact fire. Examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical anomalies. Weather conditions at the time of the accident included cloud coverage in the area, with ceilings broken at 1,800 feet above ground level, and overcast at 3,900 feet above ground level.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,650 hours in all
- Last flight review: August 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,688.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S36 Kent WA
- Destination: PLU Puyallup WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 2:10 am from PLU, 8 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.