Cessna 150 accident near Brush Praire, Washington, April 1, 2013
On April 1, 2013, a Cessna 150, registered N4342U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Brush Praire, Washington (Brush Prairie airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 2013
- Place
- Brush Praire, Washington · Brush Prairie · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N4342U · no longer on the register · serial 15060342
- 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 a light and variable wind existed during the landing approach. As the tailwheel-equipped airplane touched down, it pitched up, and the pilot lost directional control of the airplane. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane departed the runway and impacted a fence and a rabbit hutch. Subsequently, both wings struck the ground, which resulted in structural damage to the wing spar, fuselage, and tail section. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 312 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 294 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,386 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 2012
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-EZ2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPB Scappoose OR
- Destination: 5WA9 Brush Praire WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 2,500 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from SPB, 14 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.