Ryan NAVION L-17B accident near Olympia, Washington, May 21, 1994
On May 21, 1994 at about 4:25 pm local time, a Ryan NAVION L-17B, registered N1669Z, was destroyed in an accident near Olympia, Washington (Aero Plaza Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INFLIGHT FIRE FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1994 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Olympia, Washington · Aero Plaza Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan NAVION L-17B NAVION L-1
- Registration
- N1669Z · no longer on the register · serial 1669
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CLIMBING DURING A DOWNWIND DEPARTURE, THE PILOT OF THE NAVION DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND INITIATED A DESCENDING TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRFIELD. AFTER THE TURN WAS INITIATED, WITNESSES NOTED AN INTENSE FIRE IN THE CABIN OF THE AIRCRAFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN A STEEP, LEFT WING LOW, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND WAS DEMOLISHED BY IMPACT AND FIRE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE FIRE AND SMOKE WERE SO INTENSE THAT THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE SPECIFIC SOURCE OF FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1994; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-185-9 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: YKM Yakima WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; scat at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from OLM, 4 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.