Piper PA28-180 accident near Castle Rock, Washington, February 2, 1990
On February 2, 1990 at about 1:45 am local time, a Piper PA28-180, registered N8859J, was destroyed in an accident near Castle Rock, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHICH ENTERED A STALL/SPIN THAT THE PILOT DID NOT RECOVER FROM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1990 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Castle Rock, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-180 · all PA28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8859J · no longer on the register · serial 28-2825
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLT IN VISUAL TO IMC, THE PRIVATE PLT REPORTED TO ATC THAT HE WAS CIRCLING UP THROUGH A HOLE IN THE CLOUDS LOOKING FOR CLEAR SKIES INORDER TO PROCEED NORTHBOUND. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO GET ON TOP OF THE CLOUDS AND DESCENDED TO TRY AND GET UNDER THE CLOUDS. THE PLT WAS CAUTIONED THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED DUE TO CLOUD CONDITIONS, OBSCURED MOUNTAINS AND LOW FREEZING LEVELS. THE PLT LAST TRANSMITTED, THAT HE WAS PROCEEDING UNDER THE CLOUDS WHEN RADAR AND RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA WITH THE FUSELAGE POSITIONED VERTICAL TO THE TERRAIN. THERE WERE NO NOTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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: 2,191 hours in all; 1,815 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,125 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HIO Portland OR at 1:50 am
- Destination: PAE Everett WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 am from KLS, 8 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.