Amateur-built CH601 HDS accident near Kapowsin, Washington, July 29, 2010
On July 29, 2010 at about 7:42 pm local time, a amateur-built CH601 HDS, registered N18295, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Kapowsin, Washington (Kapowsin Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 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 maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall and loss of control during the initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2010 · about 7:42 pm local time
- Place
- Kapowsin, Washington · Kapowsin Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CH601 HDS
- Registration
- N18295 · no longer on the register · serial 1245
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A family member reported that the pilot purchased the airplane about one month before the accident. The pilot had been conducting taxi tests until the day of the accident, which was his first flight in the airplane. Witnesses observed the airplane use most of the runway to takeoff. After liftoff, the airplane was at a high angle-of-attack and not climbing very fast. The pilot-rated passenger reported that the airplane attained an altitude of approximately 700 feet above ground level when the airplane stalled. The airplane then descended in a nose-low attitude to ground impact. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of a pre-impact mechanical malfunction or failure.
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
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 289 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Nsi EA-81 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 86WA Kapowsin WA at 7:41 pm
- Destination: PLU Puyallup WA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 34, 2,500 ft by 24 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 8:30 pm from KPLU, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.