Accident Details
On July 21, 2012, at approximately 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Republic RC-3 airplane, registration N87521, collided with a tree shortly after takeoff from Harvey Field (S43) in Snohomish, Washington. The pilot, who was the sole occupant and the registered owner of the airplane, sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged, with both wings and the aft fuselage affected. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.
Witness Observations
Multiple witnesses reported seeing the airplane’s right wing strike a tree located off the departure end of runway 15L shortly after takeoff. One witness noted that the airplane did not appear to be ascending before it hit the tree. After striking the tree, the airplane continued to collide with terrain and came to rest in a creek approximately 3,000 feet beyond the departure end of the runway.
Pilot Statement
In a written statement, the pilot reported that he “left Harvey Field lost power.” No further explanation or details regarding the loss of engine power were provided. Subsequent conversations with the pilot did not yield any additional information about the accident sequence.
Postaccident Examination
After the accident, airport personnel moved the wreckage to a parking tie-down at the airport. Examination of the airplane by representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed structural damage to the aft lower fuselage and both wings. The engine was intact and in place, with no evidence of impact-related damage. The engine case, cylinders, and overhead components showed no anomalies. Both magnetos were attached to their respective drive pads, and ignition wires and spark plugs were in place and unremarkable. The top spark plugs exhibited light rust corrosion on their bodies, but the area between the center and ground electrodes was clear with normal wear patterns. Drive train continuity was established by manually rotating the crankshaft. The oil sump was intact with no breaches or leaks. The postaccident examination found no evidence of a pre-impact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.
Conclusion
The investigation did not identify a specific cause for the loss of power reported by the pilot. No mechanical issues were found that would have prevented normal flight.