Piper PA-34-200T accident near Chelan, Washington, July 22, 2021
On July 22, 2021 at about 1:00 am local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N315JT, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Chelan, Washington (Riverview Airpark airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot’s unstable approach to land in turbulent conditions, which resulted in a hard landing short of the runway and subsequent loss of directional control and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2021 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Chelan, Washington · Riverview Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N315JT · no longer on the register · serial 34-7870045
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the multiengine airplane reported that, while on final approach to land, the airplane encountered some turbulence and he landed hard short of the runway. The left main landing gear tire was blown when it contacted the runway asphalt. The airplane subsequently veered to the left and departed the left side of the runway onto the desert terrain. The landing gear collapsed, and the forward fuselage and windscreen center support structure were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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 in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Hard landing during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Last flight review: July 28, 2020
- Medical certificate: Unknown (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,469 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 2021
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental Motors TSIO-360-EB (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental Motors LTSIO-360-EB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAE Everett WA
- Runway 18/3, 1,889 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 119° at 3 knots
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:00 pm from S10, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.