Piper PA-28-180 accident near East Wenatchee, Washington, April 9, 1986
On April 9, 1986 at about 4:10 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N42496, was destroyed in an accident near East Wenatchee, Washington (Pangborn Field). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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 9, 1986 · about 4:10 am local time
- Place
- East Wenatchee, Washington · Pangborn Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N42496 · no longer on the register · serial 74-05164
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DEPARTED ARPT IN BOTTOM OF COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE ON NIGHT VFR FLT TO SPOKANE, WA. FIVE TO SIX MIN AFTER DEPARTURE ACFT IMPACTED TERRAIN ON LIP OF CANYON WALL. PLTS REPORTED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE NEAR THE BLUFF LINE BEFORE AND AFTER CRASH. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND EXPLODED ON IMPACT.
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: 715 hours in all; 700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,206 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1985; 140 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EAT Wenatchee WA at 4:05 am
- Destination: SFF Spokane WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,499 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 am from EAT, 4 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.