Piper PA-18-150 N9268D accident near Napavine, Washington

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to make a low-altitude pass, and his failure to maintain clearance from all structures while maneuvering.

NTSB analysis

Soon after liftoff, the pilot made a steeply-banked right turn of more than 90 degrees in order to make a low pass by the house of a friend. As he flew by the friend's house, with the airplane still in a steep right bank, the airplane's right wing tip clipped a greenhouse/potting shed in the neighbor's yard. After contacting the shed, the airplane continued on for about 150 feet before impacting the corner of a hangar owned by the pilot. According to a witness in the yard where the shed was located, the airplane's engine sounded like it was running smooth and strong, and it appeared that the pilot was in control up until the time the airplane clipped the shed. There was no evidence of any pre-impact malfunction of the airplane's engine, flight controls, or airframe.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for SEA08LA200 for the full record.