Piper PA-22 accident near Friday Harbor, Washington, December 13, 2011
On December 13, 2011 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N1810P, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Friday Harbor, Washington. It was a business 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
A total loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 2011 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Friday Harbor, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N1810P · registry record · serial 22-2589
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that about 3 to 4 minutes after takeoff, the engine lost power with no indication of engine roughness. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot made a forced landing in a field, and the airplane collided with a pole. After the accident, and prior to notification to authorities, the pilot checked the fuel system for water and found none. He then started the engine without difficulty and taxied to a secure area. A local reporting station recorded the temperature and dew point as 2 degrees Celsius and -2 degrees Celsius, respectively. Although the reported weather conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at cruise power, the engine was operating at a high power setting for takeoff, indicating that carburetor ice was likely not the reason for the loss of engine power.
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 enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute (descent)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,000 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 16,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,024 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 3, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Friday Harbor WA at 4:56 pm
- Destination: Lopez Island WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from FHR
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.
Other NTSB records under N1810P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.