Amateur-built SUPER KOALA accident near Kelso, Washington, May 6, 1989
On May 6, 1989 at about 7:53 pm local time, a amateur-built SUPER KOALA, registered N30SK, was destroyed in an accident near Kelso, Washington (Kelso airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S DELAY IN INITIATING A GO-AROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE CROSSWIND GUSTS, AND LACK OF TOTAL PILOT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1989 · about 7:53 pm local time
- Place
- Kelso, Washington · Kelso · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SUPER KOALA SUPER KOAL
- Registration
- N30SK · no longer on the register · serial 030
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
STUDENT PILOT ON FIRST FLIGHT IN 30 DAYS IN HOMEBUILT ENCOUNTERED A CROSSWIND GUST ON LNDG APPROACH. ACFT ENTERED RIGHT BANK WHICH PLT COULD NOT CORRECT. PWR WAS ADDED FOR ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND BUT BANK CONTINUED TO IMPACT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF CONTROL MALFUNCTION.
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
- Flight time: 64 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 28 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: KLS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.