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Accidents · NTSB SEA95LA172 · Final report

Piper PA-28-140 accident near Sekiu, Washington, August 6, 1995

On August 6, 1995 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N98350, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sekiu, Washington. 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 CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER NECESSITATING A LANDING ON A HIGHWAY. THE WEATHER WAS A FACTOR.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
August 6, 1995 · about 9:00 pm local time
Place
Sekiu, Washington · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
Registration
N98350 · no longer on the register · serial 28-26181
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE EN ROUTE TO HIS FINAL DESTINATION, THE WEATHER AT THE AIRPORT AND IN THE SURROUNDING AREA DETERIORATED. HE OPTED TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY BEFORE RUNNING OUT OF GAS. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE POLE.

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: 600 hours in all
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: YAZ Tofino at 8:00 pm
  • Destination: CLM Port Angeles WA
  • Flight plan: VFR
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 2 statute miles
  • Sky: broken clouds at 900 ft; scat at 300 ft
  • Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
  • Observation at 8:45 pm from CLM, 34 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers3

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.