Piper PA-28-180 accident near Whidbey Airpark, Washington, September 19, 1998
On September 19, 1998 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N33321, was substantially damaged in an accident near Whidbey Airpark, Washington (Whidbey Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot misjudged her altitude and airspeed. Factors include a wet runway surface and high vegetation off the end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 1998 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Whidbey Airpark, Washington · Whidbey Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N33321 · registry record · serial 28-7505133
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After arriving in the vicinity of the airport, the pilot canceled her IFR flight plan and proceeded VFR. While on final approach to the 2,400 foot wet runway, the pilot allowed her airspeed to become excessive, and after touchdown, she was unable to stop the aircraft in the remaining distance. After departing the runway, the aircraft impacted high vegetation and a thick berry briar.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,245 hours in all; 2,140 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 2,026 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,330 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1998; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EUG Eugene OR at 5:00 pm
- Destination: WA31
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34, 2,400 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.