Consolidated-Vultee PBY-6A accident near Northport, Washington, July 29, 1985
On July 29, 1985 at about 10:38 pm local time, a Consolidated-Vultee PBY-6A, registered N2886D, was destroyed in an accident near Northport, Washington. It was a public-use 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
- July 29, 1985 · about 10:38 pm local time
- Place
- Northport, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Consolidated-Vultee PBY-6A
- Registration
- N2886D · no longer on the register · serial 64034
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WATER BOMBER ACFT LANDED ON LAKE WITH DUMP DOORS PARTIALLY OPEN DURING LANDING PHASE OF WATER PICKUP RUN. MECHANICALLY OPERATED DUMP DOOR LOCKS WERE APPLIED BEFORE DUMP DOORS WERE CLOSED. PLT CONTROLLED DUMP DOORS FROM PILOTS CONTROL WHEEL, CO-PILOT OPERATED DOOR LOCKS BY SEPARATE CONTROL INDEPENDENT OF THE DUMP DOORS.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 17,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,415 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 15, 1985; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 40,000 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Curtis Wright R-2600-20 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.