Amateur-built GLASAIR accident near Mount Vernon, Washington, August 24, 1986
On August 24, 1986 at about 2:40 pm local time, a amateur-built GLASAIR, registered N85KB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mount Vernon, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 24, 1986 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Vernon, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASAIR
- Registration
- N85KB · no longer on the register · serial 718R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ARRIVED AT THE AIRPORT ABOUT ONE HOUR BEFORE FUEL WAS AVAILABLE. HE ASSUMED THAT HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL REMAINING ON BOARD FOR THE NEXT LEG OF THE FLIGHT BECAUSE THE DURATION WOULD BE ABOUT 10 MINUTES. ABOUT 5 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT ONTO A FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD AND NOSED OVER DURING LANDING ROLLOUT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,113 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 43 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 43 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 1986; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-BIE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 75S Arlington WA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 74S Anacortes WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.