Piper PA-28-180 and Cessna 150J accident near Sequim, Washington, August 24, 2010
On August 24, 2010 at about 11:10 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-180 (N5101L) and Cessna 150J (N50464), were involved in the same accident near Sequim, Washington (Diamond Point Airstrip airport). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper approach path and his delayed corrective actions, which resulted in an undershoot. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's distraction from other aircraft in the area.
The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper approach path and his delayed corrective actions, which resulted in an undershoot. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's distraction from other aircraft in the area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2010 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Sequim, Washington · Diamond Point Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5101L · no longer on the register · serial 28-4385
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N50464 · no longer on the register · serial 15069321
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the airplane approached the uncontrolled airport for landing, the pilot became distracted by two other airplanes in the traffic pattern and by a third airplane that entered the pattern in front of him. This resulted in the pilot extending the downwind leg of his traffic pattern and maintaining traffic pattern altitude until the final approach. A fourth airplane was in the run-up area preparing to depart, which the landing pilot also noted. As the pilot turned onto the final approach, he descended with full flaps. Just before the airplane touched down, the pilot observed that the airplane was low and slow, and he increased engine power. The airplane subsequently collided with upsloping terrain short of the runway, and then veered into the airplane that was standing in the run-up area.
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 150J final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the airplane approached the uncontrolled airport for landing, the pilot became distracted by two other airplanes in the traffic pattern and by a third airplane that entered the pattern in front of him. This resulted in the pilot extending the downwind leg of his traffic pattern and maintaining traffic pattern altitude until the final approach. A fourth airplane was in the run-up area preparing to depart, which the landing pilot also noted. As the pilot turned onto the final approach, he descended with full flaps. Just before the airplane touched down, the pilot observed that the airplane was low and slow, and he increased engine power. The airplane subsequently collided with upsloping terrain short of the runway, and then veered into the airplane that was standing in the run-up area.
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 PA-28-180 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Altitude deviation during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Landing area undershoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 549 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 549 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 13, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,825 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 22, 2009; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OLM Olympia WA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: 2WA1 Sequim WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,335 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150J from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › (general) › (general) › Pilot of other aircraft
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,159 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 4,107 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 17, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,475 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 2010; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor 0-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2WA1 Sequim WA
- Destination: 2WA1 Sequim WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,335 ft by 24 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.