Alexander RV-7 accident near Seabeck, Washington, January 26, 2015
On January 26, 2015 at about 8:50 pm local time, a 2013 Alexander RV-7, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N747BA, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Seabeck, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane impacted water, and the majority of the wreckage was not recovered.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 26, 2015 · about 8:50 pm local time · cases in 2015
- Place
- Seabeck, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alexander RV-7 UNDESIGNAT, built 2013, amateur-built
- Registration
- N747BA · registry record · serial 70263
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness located near the accident site reported observing an airplane "spinning out of control" as it descended toward the water and breaking apart as it descended out of sight behind a stand of trees. Some wreckage debris consistent with the accident airplane was found floating on the water's surface; however, the majority of the wreckage was not located. Review of recorded radar data showed the airplane departing and then climbing to cruise altitude. The data then showed the airplane descend and climb twice. The last recorded radar target was located at 7,000 ft about 1 mile southwest of the recovered debris. The reason for the loss of control could not be determined because of the limited amount of wreckage that was recovered.
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 maneuvering
- Part(s) separation from AC during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,126 hours in all; 96.9 in this make and model; 5.6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aerosport IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TIW Gig Harbor WA at 8:35 pm
- Destination: TIW Gig Harbor WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from KPWT, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on October 16, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Excerpt from Sheriff's Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | FAA radar Data | spreadsheet | Download |
| 3 | FAA radar Data Plotted in Google Earth | map file | Download |
| 4 | Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N747BA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Alexander 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Aerosport IO-360 49 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Tacoma Narrows Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Washington 2,713 since 1982 · 362 in the last ten years
- Washington 10,662 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR15LA092.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.