Amateur-built CW CHAMP-3 accident near Forks, Washington, April 23, 1995
On April 23, 1995, a amateur-built CW CHAMP-3, registered N4232L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Forks, Washington. 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1995
- Place
- Forks, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CW CHAMP-3
- Registration
- N4232L · no longer on the register · serial 81-759
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND ALTITUDE TO MANEUVER AROUND A FRIEND'S HOUSE. THE PILOT THEN ADDED POWER TO CLIMB OUT, AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THE PILOT HEADED TOWARD THE NEAREST AIRPORT AND REPORTED THAT ONE MAGNETO WAS INOPERATIVE. THE AIRPLANE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE WITH THE REDUCED RPM UNTIL THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A ROAD WHERE DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. A POST-CRASH FIRE CONSUMED THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE ENGINE INSPECTION NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE MAGNETOS WERE DESTROYED IN THE FIRE.
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 multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,600 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 5,200 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 145 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 5, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CLM Port Angeles WA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: S18 WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.