Temco GC-1B accident near Toledo, Washington, September 18, 2025
On September 18, 2025 at about 7:56 pm local time, a 1947 Temco GC-1B, registered N78316, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Toledo, Washington (Ed Carlson Meml Fld/South Lewi 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 failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff in crosswind conditions..
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2025 · about 7:56 pm local time
- Place
- Toledo, Washington · Ed Carlson Meml Fld/South Lewi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Temco GC-1B, built 1947 · all GC-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N78316 · registry record · serial 2316
- 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 as he prepared for takeoff in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he did not observe any movement of grass or trees due to wind. During the takeoff roll, the right wing rose suddenly, which the pilot counteracted with aileron inputs. The airplane bounced, and the right wing rose a second time, which the pilot counteracted. Subsequently, the airplane banked steeply to the left, exited the runway, and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right aileron, and the elevator. Prior to taxiing to and departing runway 24, the pilot observed a windsock, which indicated the wind was from about 260° at 2 to 6 knots. The airport manager reported there was a 20 knot crosswind at the time of the accident. 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
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Awareness of condition
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2007
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300B (piston); 900 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 3S8 Grants Pass OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 06/2, 4,479 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 1:15 pm from 1:15
Weather report (METAR): 12:55 PM 72 °F 50 °F 46 % VAR 6 mph 14 mph 29.85 in 0.0 in Fair
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 April 2, 2026. 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, 17 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Record of Conversation - Airport Manager | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR25LA306.