Ryan NAVION accident near Kent, Washington, March 28, 1996
On March 28, 1996 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Ryan NAVION, registered N4826K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kent, Washington (Crest Airpark 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 pilot's attempted operation with known deficiencies in the equipment, and a loose fuel system fitting. The pilot's failure to maintain maintenance service on the airplane was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 1996 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Kent, Washington · Crest Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan NAVION · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N4826K · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-1826
- 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 he had been having a problem with the fuel pressure, but decided to fly the airplane anyway. Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost partial power. The pilot stated that he kept the engine running by pushing the boost pump as he made a 180-degree turn to land on the runway. Just prior to touchdown, the pilot lowered the landing gear, however, the gear was not fully down and locked before the airplane touched down. The main landing gear remained extended; however, the nose gear collapsed. During the postcrash inspection, a loose fitting on the fuel line running into the electric boost pump appeared to have been leaking fuel for some time. The last annual inspection performed on the airplane was in 1981.
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: 3,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,443 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1981; 102 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,267 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.