Piper PA-22-150 accident near Forks, Washington, March 5, 1995
On March 5, 1995 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N4778A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Forks, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 1995 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Forks, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4778A · registry record · serial 22-3928
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT ABOUT 30 MINUTES INTO A LOCAL FLIGHT HE HEARD A STRANGE POPPING NOISE AND STARTED LOSING RPMS. HE CHECKED THE MIXTURE CONTROL, SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT, AND ATTEMPTED OTHER CORRECTIVE ACTION. WHEN POWER WAS NOT REGAINED, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING ON A GRAVEL BAR IN A RIVER. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING ROLLOUT. THE ENGINE HAD 1000 RPM WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED. FAA INSPECTORS FOUND THE AIRCRAFT TO HAVE NOT HAD AN ANNUAL INSPECTION IN SEVERAL YEARS, AND FOUND MULTIPLE MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES; NONE OF WHICH WOULD PRECLUDE THE ENGINE FROM OPERATING.
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: 437 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1988; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S18 at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from UIL, 20 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.