Amateur-built FISHER HORIZON 1 accident near Chelan, Washington, June 12, 2023
On June 12, 2023 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 2008 amateur-built FISHER HORIZON 1, registered N88GJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Chelan, Washington (Lake Chelan airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper selection of a touchdown point and delayed recognition, which resulted in an impact with an obstacle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2023 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chelan, Washington · Lake Chelan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FISHER HORIZON 1, built 2008
- Registration
- N88GJ · no longer on the register · serial HO 1186
- 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 he was practicing touch and go maneuvers in the airport traffic pattern. During his second approach to land, the pilot improperly selected his touchdown point at the beginning of the runway instead of the runway threshold. When the pilot recognized he was not on the runway glide path by looking at the “visual approach slope indicator lights” (airport has a precision approach path indicator), he increased power to arrest his descent rate, but the right main landing gear collided with a road sign at the north end of the runway before the displaced threshold. The airplane impacted the ground, nosed over and came to rest inverted on the runway, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions and anomalies that could 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 77 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 5, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 233 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 4, 2023; 5 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 5,268 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S10 Chelan WA at 4:08 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 3,506 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 am from KEAT, 30 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KEAT 121655Z AUTO 23004KT 10SM CLR 24/13 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP124 T02390133
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 26, 2023. 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 | Accident Photograph | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.