Brown's Cape Horn Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Washougal, Washington 98671
Thursday, July 23, 2009 19:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the airplaneā€™s engine lost power immediately after takeoff from a private airfield. The left wing then struck a large tree and the airplane subsequently crashed into wooded terrain, which resulted in structural damage to both wings and fuselage. Post accident examination of the engine disclosed that the (top) electrode areas of the spark plugs were oil soaked, and severe wear was noted to the ground and center electrodes. Further examination revealed that the number 4 cylinder exhaust valve was stuck in the open position. The valve remained stuck during a functional check and was later removed utilizing a punch and heavy hammer. A dark brown material and smearing was noted along the exhaust valve neck. Comparable material and smearing was observed along the interior surface of the exhaust valve guide. No additional mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power during initial climb due to a stuck exhaust valve.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1915
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Washougal
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98671
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 453623N
Event Location Longitude 1221103W
Event Location Airport Brown's Cape Horn Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4WA1
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 500
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1953 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID KTTD
Elevation of weather observation facility 39
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KTTD 240253Z 35003KT 10SM CLR 22/13 A3003
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26696
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC SEA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 16 2010 4:22PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N22278
NTSB Number WPR09LA364
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150H
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15068187
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 29 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 13051
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Robert Brown
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Washougal
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98607
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Robert Brown
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Washougal
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98607
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 4WA1
Departure City Washougal
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1930
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 4WA1
Destination City Washougal
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 8 2010 5:57PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 07
Runway Length 1600
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --