Bellanca 14-19-3 accident near Goldendale, Washington, January 8, 1983
On January 8, 1983 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 14-19-3, registered N8807R, was destroyed in an accident near Goldendale, 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 pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight planning, which resulted in flight into adverse weather conditions and clearance from trees not maintained. Factors contributing to the accident included the clouds, low ceilings, and turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 1983 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Goldendale, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 14-19-3 · all 14-19-3s on the register
- Registration
- N8807R · no longer on the register · serial 4159
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft failed to arrive at its destination and was declared missing on January 10, 1983. Search and rescue efforts along the route of flight were suspended on January 15, 1983. An area forecast indicated a series of fronts moving across the Pacific Northwest. The forecast indicated ceilings below 1,000 feet and visibility below 3 miles in fog. Additionally, the forecast for Oregon and Washington east of the Cascade mountain range revealed thin broken to overcast clouds from 5,000 to 7,000 feet, occasional visibility between 3 and 5 statute miles in light rain and fog, and mountains occasionally obscured in clouds and precipitation. The outlook was for marginal visual flight rule conditions. There was no record of the pilot requesting a weather briefing, but prior to his departure air traffic control advised the pilot that SIGMETS for severe turbulence and icing in clouds were in effect along the route of flight. Air traffic control subsequently recommended that the pilot contact Seattle Flight Watch for detailed information; there is no record of the pilot contacting Seattle Flight Watch. Subsequent to departure communications with Yakima tower, there was no further contact with the accident airplane. On August 30, 2005, the airplane wreckage was located approximately 15 nautical miles north-northwest of Goldendale, Oregon. The first impact point was evidenced by damage to the top of a tree grove prior to the main wreckage impact area. The energy path extended approximately 340 feet on a magnetic heading of 138 degrees. Photographs revealed that the airplane was destroyed. The cockpit was unrecognizable, with two sections of a seat located 75 feet from the main wreckage area. The engine came to rest in an upright position separated from the airframe and both propeller blades remained attached to the propeller flange. There was no postcrash fire and no planned recovery of the wreckage.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YKM Yakima WA at 7:49 pm
- Destination: Long Beach CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 14 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,905 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from YKM, 41 miles away
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.