Piper PA-22-150 accident near Lopez, Washington, January 9, 2011
On January 9, 2011 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N5850D, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Lopez, Washington (Lopez Island Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 9, 2011 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lopez, Washington · Lopez Island Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N5850D · no longer on the register · serial 22-4529
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that, shortly after takeoff during the instructional flight, the airplane began to lose engine power. The instructor lowered the airplane’s nose and began a turn toward open terrain. About 90 degrees into the turn, the engine lost total power. The pilots tried unsuccessfully to resolve the problem by applying carburetor heat, changing throttle positions, and switching fuel tanks. The instructor performed a forced landing in a nearby field, and the airplane collided with thick vegetation during the landing roll. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded engine operation. The airplane was operating in conditions potentially conducive to carburetor icing at the time of the accident; however, this particular engine and its installation in this airframe is not known to be susceptible to carburetor icing.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Not specified
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 6,700 as pilot in command; 3,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 14, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 124 hours in all; 114 in this make and model; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,870 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 6, 2010; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S31 Lopez Island WA at 9:14 pm
- Destination: S31 Lopez WA
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KFHR, 5 miles away
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.