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Accidents · NTSB SEA83LA157 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Amateur-built 1 accident near Ellensburg, Washington, July 22, 1983

On July 22, 1983 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built 1, registered N6G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ellensburg, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
July 22, 1983 · about 11:00 pm local time · cases in 1983
Place
Ellensburg, Washington · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Amateur-built 1
Registration
N6G · registry record · serial 5537
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PLT WAS FLYING VERY LOW OVER A RIDGE AT ABOUT 4,700 FT MSL & GOT CAUGHT IN A DOWNDRAFT. HE WAS UNABLE TO FLY OUT OF THE DOWNDRAFT & STRUCK THE GROUND.

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: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
  • Flight time: 6,300 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 4,500 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,192 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1983
  • Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: ELN Ellensburg WA at 10:30 pm
  • Destination: WA68 Vantage WA
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
  • Visibility: 40 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
  • Observation at 10:55 pm from EAT, 25 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA83LA157.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.