Douglas DC-3C accident near Spokane, Washington, March 18, 1994
On March 18, 1994 at about 9:56 am local time, a Douglas DC-3C, registered N3433Y, was destroyed in an accident near Spokane, Washington (Spokane Intl airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CYLINDER FATIGUE, DARK NIGHT AND STALL ENCOUNTERED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 1994 · about 9:56 am local time
- Place
- Spokane, Washington · Spokane Intl
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-3C · all DC-3Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3433Y · no longer on the register · serial 43089
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE CO-PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FLIGHT WAS RETURNING WITH THE RIGHT ENGINE SHUT DOWN. SECONDS LATER, THE TOWER CONTROLLER SAW A FIRE. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH LEVEL TERRAIN, 3,450 FEET FROM THE END OF RWY 21 IN A 75 TO 80 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE RIGHT ENGINE PROPELLER WAS FOUND IN THE FEATHERED POSITION. THE LEFT ENGINE INDICATED EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS PRODUCING POWER AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. A FATIGUE CRACK WAS FOUND THAT SEPARATED THE HEAD FROM THE BARREL ON THE NUMBER EIGHT CYLINDER OF THE RIGHT ENGINE. NO OTHER EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR 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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,877 hours in all; 3,114 in this make and model; 188 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 3,116 as pilot in command; 37 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 37,190 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 10, 1994; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 26,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1830-92 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Salair INC.
The flight
- Destination: PDX Portland OR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:57 am from GEG, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.