Piper PA-20-115 accident near Seattle, Washington, May 10, 1987
On May 10, 1987 at about 9:58 pm local time, a Piper PA-20-115, registered N7732K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seattle, Washington (Boeing Field). It was a personal 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
- May 10, 1987 · about 9:58 pm local time
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · Boeing Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20-115 · all PA-20-115s on the register
- Registration
- N7732K · registry record · serial 20560
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLL WITH A CROSSWIND FROM THE RIGHT A GROUND LOOP OCCURRED. THE PILOT HAD JUST COMPLETED A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE WIND WAS FROM 210 DEGREES AT 9 KNOTS. THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 13L.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 43 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 14, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TTD Troutdale WA at 7:45 pm
- Destination: BFI Seattle WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13L, 10,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:48 pm from BFI
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.
Other NTSB records under N7732K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.