Piper PA-22-108 accident near Ellensburg, Washington, January 20, 1986
On January 20, 1986, a Piper PA-22-108, registered N5338Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ellensburg, Washington (Valley Aviation airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- January 20, 1986
- Place
- Ellensburg, Washington · Valley Aviation · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-108 · all PA-22-108s on the register
- Registration
- N5338Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-9050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A GUST OF WIND OCCURRED ON SHORT FINAL AND A LOSS OF AIRSPEED RESULTED AT ABOUT 15 FEET A.G.L THE PILOT FAILED TO ADD POWER BUT RAISED THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE TO AN ATTITUDE WHERE HE COULD NO LONGER SEE THE RUNWAY. LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY ONTO 1 FOOT DEEP SNOW. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED DURING LANDING ROLL.
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: 112 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 84 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 8, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EAT Wenatchee WA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: Ellensburg WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.