Piper J-3 and Cessna 150E accident near Vancouver, Washington, April 22, 1999
On April 22, 1999 at about 6:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper J-3 (N48612) and Cessna 150E (N3510J), were involved in the same accident near Vancouver, Washington (Evergreen Airport). 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's failure to maintain clearance from an aircraft parked in the run-up area.
The failure of the pilot of the other aircraft to maintain clearance from the pilot's stationary aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 1999 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vancouver, Washington · Evergreen Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
- Registration
- N48612 · registry record · serial 10733
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150E · all 150Es on the register
- Registration
- N3510J · registry record · serial 15061210
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper J-3 final · quoted from the NTSB record
While taxiing the airplane to a parking area after landing on a north/south runway, the Piper J-3 pilot taxied through the run-up area for the east/west runway. As he passed the run-up area, the right wing of his airplane collided with the wing and propeller of a Cessna 150 that was preparing for takeoff. During a post-accident interview, the pilot said that he simply had not seen the other aircraft and was not aware it was in the area until the two aircraft made contact.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150E final · quoted from the NTSB record
While taxiing the airplane to a parking area after landing on a north/south runway, the Piper J-3 pilot taxied through the run-up area for the east/west runway. As he passed the run-up area, the right wing of his aircraft collided with the wing and propeller of a Cessna 150 that was preparing for takeoff. During a post-accident interview, the pilot said that he simply had not seen the other aircraft and was not aware it was in the area until the two aircraft made contact.
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 for the Piper J-3 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,300 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 7,300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 1999; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 59S at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150E from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 993 hours in all; 487 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 993 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,317 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 1998; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 59S
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.