Piper PA-18A 150 accident near Dallesport, Washington, February 27, 2024
On February 27, 2024 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1955 Piper PA-18A 150, registered N518SW, suffered minor damage in an accident during prior to flight near Dallesport, Washington (Columbia Gorge Rgnl/The Dalles airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to disengage the ignition prior to moving the propeller by hand resulting in the inadvertent starting of the engine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 2024 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dallesport, Washington · Columbia Gorge Rgnl/The Dalles · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A 150, built 1955 · all PA-18A 150s on the register
- Registration
- N518SW · registry record · serial 18-4389
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was preparing to fly the airplane with a new propeller that had been recently installed. During a few recent experiences, the propeller would get stuck at top dead center and would only turn normally after multiple start attempts. On the day of the accident, the propeller was stuck at top dead center again after an unsuccessful attempt to start the engine. The pilot walked to the front of the airplane and stood on one of the floats to reposition the propeller, at which time the engine started up immediately and the pilot was struck by one of the propeller blades. According to the airport manager who arrived several minutes after the accident, he observed the ignition switch in the ON position. The pilot further remarked that he must have forgotten to turn off the magnetos before he moved the propeller. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or 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
- AC/prop/rotor contact w person during prior to flight defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › (general) › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Switching › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 194 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 156 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 10, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 715 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 2023; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C4P (piston); 715 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from KDLS
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDLS 271653Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM SCT055 OVC075 06/M01 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP192 T00561006 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on October 24, 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, 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.