Piper PA-24-250 accident near Vancouver, Washington, November 19, 1989
On November 19, 1989 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N8289P, was destroyed in an accident near Vancouver, Washington (Evergreen airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, PILOT'S ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT QUALIFICATIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOW CEILING, FOG AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 1989 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Vancouver, Washington · Evergreen · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N8289P · no longer on the register · serial 24-3542
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM AN UNCONTROLLED ARPT AND THE ACFT CRASHED ONE MILE OFF THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. WITNESSES REPORTED DENSE FOG AND VISIBILITY OF 1/2 MILE OR LESS. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT DID NOT FILE A FLT PLAN OR OBTAIN A WX BRIEFING FOR THE FLT.
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: 360 hours in all; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,966 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 1989; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: S59 Vancouver WA at 3:48 pm
- Destination: 62S Chr'Mas Valley OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from PDX, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.