Amateur-built DHC-8 accident near Wenatchee, Washington, March 26, 1997
On March 26, 1997 at about 5:50 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-8, registered N826PH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wenatchee, Washington (Pangborn Memorial airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 12 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the ground marshaller to marshal the airplane into a correct parking place on the ramp, her failure to verify clearance between the right wing of the airplane and the ground de-ice cart, and failure of the flight crew to ensure clearance of the right wing as the airplane was being taxied into the parking place. Factors relating to the accident include: a congested ramp facility, and inadequate ramp markings.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 1997 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Wenatchee, Washington · Pangborn Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 12 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-8
- Registration
- N826PH · no longer on the register · serial 214
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After an uneventful landing, the pilot was cleared to taxi to the terminal. During the taxi, a ground marshaller signaled for the airplane to be turned (left) toward the northwest. The flight crew initiated a left turn. During the turn, the right wing tip of the airplane collided with a wing deicing cart. The cart tumbled and bounced back toward the trailing edge of the right wing. A portion of the cart impaled the right aileron, causing substantial damage. The captain and first officer did not see the deice cart in time to stop the right wing from striking it during the turn. Subsequent investigation revealed that the marshaller was using a spot on the ramp to park the accident airplane that was intended to be used for a smaller aircraft. Also, the ramp area at the airport did not have any lead-in lines or markings to provide taxi guidance, nor was a 'safe movement' zone designated. Additionally, the decing cart had been noted as a potential hazard by the previous station manager; however, it was not moved because of its needed proximity to an electrical source.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 16,300 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 14,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,016 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 1, 1997; 189 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 34,500 lb
- Seats: 40
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PW120A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Horizon Airlines, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MWH Moses Lake WA at 5:25 pm
- Destination: EAT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30, 5,499 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:48 pm from EAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 9 |
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.