Schweizer 2-22EK accident near Easton, Washington, August 14, 1986
On August 14, 1986 at about 1:01 am local time, a Schweizer 2-22EK (glider), registered N2723Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Easton, Washington (Easton State airport). It was an instructional 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
- August 14, 1986 · about 1:01 am local time
- Place
- Easton, Washington · Easton State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer 2-22EK
- Registration
- N2723Z · registry record · serial 179
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS FLYING THE GLIDER WITH A STUDENT IN THE FRONT SEAT ON A LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. ABOUT 2200 FT DOWN THE 2640 FOOT GRASS STRIP, THE TOW AIRCRAFT, AT ABOUT 50 TO 100 FEET AGL, LOST POWER AND STARTED TO DESCEND BACK TO THE RUNWAY. THE GLIDER PILOT RELEASED THE TOW ROPE AND ATTEMPTED A TURN AWAY FROM TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. WHILE TURNING, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE, SPINNING THE GLIDER IN A 'FLAT' SPIN TO THE GROUND.
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: flight instructor, private
- Ratings: instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 950 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 1985; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,640 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.