Piper PA-28-181 accident near Metaline Falls, Washington, July 23, 2009
On July 23, 2009 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2903A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Metaline Falls, Washington (Sullivan Lake State 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 failure, during the landing roll, to identify the end of the runway and stop the airplane within the space available.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2009 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Metaline Falls, Washington · Sullivan Lake State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2903A · registry record · serial 28-7990541
- 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 during the landing on the unimproved mountain airstrip, he did not apply the brakes as he intended to “coast” up to the end of the runway, and then depart in the opposite direction, downhill. The pilot did not identify the end of the runway until the last moment when he applied the brakes and full right rudder. However, the airplane exited the runway and impacted a ditch, resulting in the collapse of the left main landing gear. The pilot stated that he had identified the red runway end marker in the air, but could not see it in the tall grass until it was too late. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left main landing gear assembly. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or flight control system.
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
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,190 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 11, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 29, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S23 Ione WA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 09S Metaline Falls WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 1,765 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KDEW, 60 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.