Cessna 172 and Piper PA-28-180 mid-air collision near Ritzville, Washington, May 24, 1987
On May 24, 1987 at about 7:10 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172 (N5711A) and Piper PA-28-180 (N44726), were involved in a mid-air collision near Ritzville, Washington. 3 people were killed; 3 others were unhurt. 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
- May 24, 1987 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ritzville, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5711A · no longer on the register · serial 28311
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N44726 · no longer on the register · serial 7505004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
OCCUPANTS OF BOTH ACFT WERE FAMILY MEMBERS TRAVELING IN COMPANY FOR HOLIDAY. TAKEOFF WAS ABOUT ONE MIN APART WITH N44726 IN TRAIL. DUE HIGHER NORM CRZ PERFORMANCE, N44726 OVERTOOK N5711A. PLT OF N44726 REDUCED SPEED AND ESTABLISHED POSITION ABOUT 1/2 MILE TO RIGHT OF N5711A AT SAME ALT. PLT OF N44726 STATED HE NEXT SAW N5711A DIRECTLY IN FRONT AS COLLISION OCCURRED. EVIDENCE SHOWS N44726 SEVERED TAIL CONE FROM N5711A JUST FWD OF EMPENNAGE. N44726 WAS LANDED SAFELY DESPITE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
OCCUPANTS OF BOTH ACFT WERE FAMILY MEMBERS TRAVELING IN COMPANY FOR HOLIDAY. TAKEOFF WAS ABOUT ONE MIN APART WITH N44726 IN TRAIL. DUE HIGHER NORM CRZ PERFORMANCE, N44726 OVERTOOK N5711A. PLT OF N44726 REDUCED SPEED AND ESTABLISHED POSITION ABOUT 1/2 MILE TO RIGHT OF N5711A AT SAME ALT. PLT OF N44726 STATED HE NEXT SAW N5711A DIRECTLY IN FRONT AS COLLISION OCCURRED. EVIDENCE SHOWS N44726 SEVERED TAIL CONE FROM N5711A JUST FWD OF EMPENNAGE. N44726 WAS LANDED SAFELY DESPITE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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 for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 97 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 50 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,301 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 1986; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 33S Ritzville WA at 7:05 pm
- Destination: S62 Athol ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-180 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 82 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 34 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1987; 10 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: 33S Ritzville WA at 7:07 pm
- Destination: S62 Athol ID
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.