Amateur-built HAWK MKII accident near Ellensburg, Washington, June 1, 1987
On June 1, 1987 at about 3:10 am local time, a amateur-built HAWK MKII, registered N5832M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ellensburg, Washington. 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
- June 1, 1987 · about 3:10 am local time
- Place
- Ellensburg, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HAWK MKII
- Registration
- N5832M · no longer on the register · serial 8411-2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DESPITE WARNINGS FROM THE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION ABOUT TURBULENCE, HIGH WINDS ALOFT, SEVERE LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR, AND LOW CEILINGS ALONG THE PILOTS INTENDED ROUTE OF FLIGHT, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DEPART THE AIRPORT FOR HIS DESTINATION. STANDING LENTICULAR ALTOCUMULUS CLOUDS WERE ALSO PRESENT. WITHIN 1/2 HOUR OF DEPARTURE THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE CAUSING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT SAFELY AT A NEARBY AIRPORT.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EAT Wenatchee WA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: S88 Arlington WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 am from EAT, 15 miles away
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.