Piper PA-22-150 accident near Black Diamond, Washington, May 28, 1989
On May 28, 1989 at about 3:44 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N6121D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Black Diamond, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POWER LOSS DUE TO MAGNETO FAILURE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR FORCED LANDING AND THE PRESENCE OF OBSTACLES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1989 · about 3:44 pm local time
- Place
- Black Diamond, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N6121D · no longer on the register · serial 22-4765
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LIFTOFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN MISFIRING AND THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR OBSTACLES AHEAD. A TURN WAS MADE TO EFFECT A FORCED LANDING ON A PARALLEL ROADWAY. DURING ROLLOUT, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A POWER POLE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT MAGNETO ROTOR GEAR HAD STRIPPED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 701 hours in all; 215 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,803 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 29, 1988; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 150 Puyallup WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 pm from SEA, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.