Amateur-built SH2 accident near Camano Island, Washington, April 2, 1983
On April 2, 1983 at about 6:45 pm local time, a amateur-built SH2, registered N94RB, was destroyed in an accident near Camano Island, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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 2, 1983 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Camano Island, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SH2
- Registration
- N94RB · registry record · serial 99
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED IN A FLAT LEFT HAND SPIN WHICH CONTINUED TO GROUND IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE SPIN FROM A VERTICAL MANEUVER AT ABOUT 2000 FEET AGL. THE PILOT HAD HELPED BUILD THIS AIRCRAFT. HE WAS CHARACTERIZED AS A CONSERVATIVE PILOT AND HAD RECEIVED NO TRAINING IN AEROBATICS OR SPINS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE PILOT OR PASSENGER.
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: 361 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 96 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1982; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S88 Arlington WA at 10:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
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.