Cessna 182R accident near Copalis Beach, Washington, July 5, 1995
On July 5, 1995 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N4836E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Copalis Beach, Washington (Copalis State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1995 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Copalis Beach, Washington · Copalis State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N4836E · registry record · serial 68277
- 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 INTENDED TO LAND ON A SECTION OF BEACH DESIGNATED AS A STATE AIRPORT. AFTER FLYING OVER THE AREA, THE PILOT DETERMINED THE BEACH WAS SMOOTH WITH SOME WET SPOTS AND DECIDED TO LAND ON THE UPPER EDGE OF THE WET AREA. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE WENT INTO A SHINY LOOKING AREA THAT THE PILOT THOUGHT WAS WET SAND. THE AREA WAS ACTUALLY A POOL OF WATER ABOUT 6-8 INCHES DEEP. WHEN THE MAIN LANDING GEAR DROPPED INTO THE POOL, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED DOWN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,138 hours in all; 530 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,023 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,245 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1995; 109 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,110 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BFI Seattle WA at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.