Boeing PT13/17 accident near Vancouver, Washington, July 31, 1986
On July 31, 1986 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Boeing PT13/17, registered N1307N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vancouver, Washington (Clark County 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
- July 31, 1986 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vancouver, Washington · Clark County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing PT13/17 · all PT13/17s on the register
- Registration
- N1307N · registry record · serial 75-5135
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH NEAR WOODLAND, WASHINGTON AND AN APPROACH WAS SET UP, BUT DUE TO MANY AIRCRAFT IN THE PATTERN THE PILOT ELECTED TO GO TO SCAPPOSE, WASHINGTON (ABOUT 10 NM SOUTH OF WOODLAND). AT SCAPPOSE, WASHINGTON THE PILOT NOTED 'X'S' ON THE RUNWAY AND DECIDED TO TRY TO MAKE IT TO EVERGREEN (17 NM SE OF SCAPPOSE). ENROUTE TO EVERGREEN THE ENGINE QUIT AND A FORCED LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED TO CLARK COUNTY. THE ACFT BOUNCED OFF THE ROOF OF THE RESTAURANT AND CAME TO REST INVERTED BESIDE THE BLDG. A CERTIFIED A&P MECHANIC REMOVED AND VISUALLY TESTED THE SIGHT FUEL GAUGE. THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR (CORK FLOAT) MOVED FREELY FROM THE FULL POSITION TO A POINT (IN THE GAUGE) WHERE ABOUT 10 GALLONS WOULD BE INDICATED AND BECAME STUCK AT THAT POINT. THE PLT REPORTED THE FUEL GAUGE HAD BEEN 'VISUALLY CALIBRATED' AT THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION.
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; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,007 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1986; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental R-670-W (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 59S Vancouver WA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 0S6 Orchards WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 2,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
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.