Accident Details
On September 6, 2024, at about 1259 Pacific daylight time, a Boeing A75L3, registration N53466, was substantially damaged when it struck terrain near Yacolt, Washington. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the passenger sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Flight History
The accident airplane was one of three aircraft traveling together. The group departed from Ed Carlson Memorial Field/South Lewis County Airport (TDO) in Toledo, Washington, with an intended destination of Ken Jernstedt Airfield (4S2) in Hood River, Oregon. The aircraft maintained loose trail with each other. A pilot from one of the other airplanes reported that two of the airplanes turned east/southeast near Woodland, Washington, while the third continued south. The pilot of the southbound aircraft heard the accident pilot state, "this is the cut we're going to take." No further communications were received from the accident pilot.
Search and Wreckage Location
The other two aircraft arrived at 4S2, and their pilots subsequently reported the accident airplane overdue. An Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued at 1637. The wreckage was located about 12 miles southeast of Yacolt in wooded, mountainous terrain by a United States Coast Guard rescue helicopter and ground search and rescue teams from the Skamania County Sheriff's office.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane came to rest in a nose-low attitude on an approximate heading of 110° magnetic, at an elevation of about 2,751 ft mean sea level. The wreckage was at the base of an approximately 100 ft tall tree. Multiple impact scars were observed from the base of the tree to about 50 ft, and several branches from the tree were found within the wreckage. All major structural components of the airplane were located at the accident site. The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.