Piper PA-28-180 accident near Blakely Island, Washington, April 27, 1987
On April 27, 1987 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N5185L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blakely Island, Washington (Blakely Island airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- April 27, 1987 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Blakely Island, Washington · Blakely Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5185L · no longer on the register · serial 284473
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT LANDED WITH EXCESS AIRSPEED PAST THE FIRST THIRD OF THE DOWNHILL RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND THE PILOT ADDED A LITTLE POWER. THE AIRCRAFT THEN STRUCK THE RUNWAY WITH THE NOSE GEAR. SINCE THE PLT FEARED GOING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO THE WATER, THE PLT USED EXCESSIVE BRAKING. THE AIRCRAFT THEN VEERED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY STRIKING A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING.
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: 137 hours in all; 137 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 97 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BLE Bellingham WA at 7:35 pm
- Destination: S08 Blakely Island WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.