Piper PA-28-235 accident near Port Angeles, Washington, July 30, 2023
On July 30, 2023 at about 6:19 am local time, a 1964 Piper PA-28-235, registered N8675W, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Port Angeles, Washington (Sequim Valley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate fuel monitoring, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2023 · about 6:19 am local time
- Place
- Port Angeles, Washington · Sequim Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235, built 1964 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8675W · no longer on the register · serial 28-10205
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported being unable to land at the destination airport at night due to the runway lights not being operational. The pilot then diverted to two other nearby airports but was unable to identify either airport. During the process of trying to locate a runway the pilot did not adequately monitor the fuel onboard and all the fuel was consumed from the selected fuel tank, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. The pilot switched fuel tanks, but the engine did not restart. The pilot has no memory beyond that phase of the event. The airplane collided with trees and terrain, sustaining substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Fuel starvation during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway lighting › Not specified
- Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,777 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 2,801 on instruments
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,420 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Brflyers LLC
The flight
- Departed from: BLI Bellingham WA at 6:00 am
- Destination: W28 Sequim WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KCLM, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCLM 300253Z AUTO 28011KT 10SM CLR 17/11 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP198 T01720106 58003
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 4, 2024. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N8675W 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.