Ryan NAVION accident near Chelan, Washington, September 1, 1991
On September 1, 1991 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Ryan NAVION, registered N4111K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chelan, Washington (Chelan airport). 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
POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DOWN DRAFTS, PROPER ALIGNMENT WAS NOT MAINTAINED AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1991 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Chelan, Washington · Chelan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan NAVION · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N4111K · registry record · serial NAV-4-1111
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST AFTER TAKE OFF, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DOWN DRAFT. THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE TO INCREASE AIRSPEED AND MADE A RIGHT TURN PASSING OVER BUILDINGS, HANGARS, AND THE PARKING RAMP. THE AIRPLANE COMPLETED A 360 DEGREE TURN AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE RAMP. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO FLY THE AIRPLANE AND RETURNED FOR LANDING WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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: 135 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,233 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 3,539 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.