Beech 77 accident near Richland, Washington, April 17, 1982
On April 17, 1982 at about 5:00 am local time, a Beech 77, registered N1814B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richland, Washington. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1982 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Richland, Washington
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 77 · all 77s on the register
- Registration
- N1814B · no longer on the register · serial WA281
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING OVER A GOVERNMENT RESERVATION AT NIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN ABOUT 1000 FT BELOW THE MOUNTAIN TOP. A SEAT BELT "D-RING" FAILED AND THE PILOT WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A SLOPE OF ABOUT 60 DEGREES. THE PILOT AND AIRCRAFT WERE FOUND THE NEXT MORNING WHEN A US ARMY HELICOPTER AIRCREW HEARD THE ELT SIGNALS. THE PILOT SUFFERED FROM EXPOSURE, A BROKEN LEG, AND FACIAL INJURIES.
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: 90 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 185 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Richland WA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: Richland WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 250° at 25 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 18,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 124°F (51°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.