Amateur-built Q-2 accident near Arlington, Washington, July 14, 1995
On July 14, 1995 at about 2:30 am local time, a amateur-built Q-2, registered N9775N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arlington, Washington (Arlington Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE NONPILOT-RATED MECHANIC'S IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGMENT AND PERFORMANCE DUE TO ALCOHOL; IMPROPER DECISION BY THE MECHANIC (UNQUALIFIED PERSON) TO FLIGHT CHECK THE AIRPLANE; AND FUEL EXHAUSTION AFTER TAKEOFF, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1995 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Arlington, Washington · Arlington Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Q-2
- Registration
- N9775N · no longer on the register · serial 2366
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A MECHANIC, WHO WAS NOT CERTIFICATED AS A PILOT, STATED THAT HE ELECTED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE AFTER PERFORMING MAINTENANCE FOR THE OWNER. REPORTEDLY, HE HAD THE OWNER'S CONSENT TO FLIGHT CHECK THE AIRPLANE; HOWEVER, THE OWNER WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE MECHANIC WAS NOT A CERTIFICATED PILOT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE AIRPLANE MADE A RIGHT TURN IN THE PATTERN AND CONTINUED TO A LOW PASS OVER THE RUNWAY. THE ENGINE THEN LOST POWER, AND THE NONPILOT-RATED MECHANIC MADE A HARD LANDING ON A CLOSED RUNWAY. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE WAS ASKED TO TAKE A BREATHALYZER TEST. THE TEST INDICATED A 0.16% BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL. INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE AND ENGINE REVEALED ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. NO MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster R-2100-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,333 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:34 am from AWO
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.