Piper PA 23-1300 accident near Battleground, Washington, March 17, 1984
On March 17, 1984 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA 23-1300, registered N3347P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Battleground, Washington (Goheen Airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- March 17, 1984 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Battleground, Washington · Goheen Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 23-1300 · all PA 23-1300s on the register
- Registration
- N3347P · no longer on the register · serial 3800
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HAD BEEN PARKED ON THE GROUND FOR 2 YRS. PRIOR TO THE FLT, IT HAD BEEN RUN-UP SEVERAL TIMES. THERE WAS ABOUT 20 GAL OF FUEL IN EACH TANK. THE PLT CHECKED THE FUEL BEFORE TAKEOFF & SOME WATER WAS FOUND. HE DRAINED THE FUEL UNTIL NO WATER WAS FOUND. THE PLT ELECTED TO FERRY THE ACFT TO ANOTHER ARPT FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION, WHICH WAS OVERDUE. HE TOOK OFF WITHOUT OBTAINING A FERRY PERMIT. DURING THE TAKEOFF (FROM RWY 15), THE LEFT ENG BEGAN A POPPING NOISE, THEN QUIT RUNNING. THE PLT FEATHERED THE LEFT PROP & CIRCLED TO LAND. HE 'GOT TO CLOSE TO THE RWY TO LAND ON 15 AGAIN & CONTINUED AROUND FOR 33.' HOWEVER,THE RIGHT BEGAN LOSING POWER. THE PLT MANEUVER TO AVOID TREES & LANDED WHEELS-UP IN A FIELD BESIDE THE ARPT. THE RIGHT ENG QUIT RUNNING JUST BEFORE HE LANDED. WATER WAS FOUND IN ALL 4 FUEL TANKS.
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
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 365 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,848 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 1981
- Maximum gross weight: 1 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 BIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WAO5 Battleground WA at 9:55 pm
- Destination: OS6 Vancouver WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,400 ft; clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from PDX, 14 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.