Amateur-built DHC-1 accident near Winlock, Washington, September 13, 1997
On September 13, 1997 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-1, registered N6004A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Winlock, Washington (Pilots Pasture airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to attain proper alignment during touchdown and failure to maintain directional control. A wet runway was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1997 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Winlock, Washington · Pilots Pasture · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-1
- Registration
- N6004A · registry record · serial C1-0509
- 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 on final approach the airplane was too high. The pilot slipped the airplane to reduce altitude and held that attitude until a few feet above the runway and at the point of flare. The pilot stated that the airplane continued to descend in the flare and touched down still in the slip attitude. The airplane bounced and the pilot added power. The airplane was pointed to the right of runway heading and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control as the airplane traveled off the runway into the wet grass. The pilot reduced the power and applied heavy breaking action, however, the airplane continued and collided with a hangar.
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: 544 hours in all; 378 in this make and model; 501 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1997; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bristol GIPSY (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Napavine WA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,200 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,200 ft; scat at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 pm from KLS, 23 miles away
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.