Cessna 180 N180DT accident near La Center, Washington

Preliminary information

On August 10, 2026, about 12:55 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180, N180DT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near La Center, Washington. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were seriously injured. The flight was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

According to preliminary ADS-B, the airplane departed from runway 31 at Daybreak (WA46), La Center, Washington, about 1250, turned to the northwest, and climbed to 1,025 ft above ground level (agl). At 1251, the airplane made a turn to the east, and continued its climb to 2,200 ft. As the airplane passed the departure end of runway 31, it began a descent and about .5 mile east-southeast of WA46, the airplane made a left turn to the north. 1 mile northeast of WA46, at about 1,200 ft agl, the airplane made a descending 180° turn to the left, and flew southbound, approximately parallel with runway 13/31 at WA46, and about .45 mile from runway 13/31. About .40 mile east of the approach end of runway 31, about 250 ft agl, the airplane began a right turn and continued its descent until the end of the available flight track data. The last recorded data point was at 1255, about .23 mile southeast of the approach end of runway 31. (See figure 1)

Figure 1. Preliminary ADS-B flight track data of accident flight.

According to a witness who was positioned to the east of WA46, he observed the airplane shortly before the accident. He observed the airplane as it made the northbound turn, east of WA46, and then again as it flew southbound and began its turn toward the runway. He stated that as it was approaching, the engine sounded like it “backfired, as if the pilot was throttling back for landing”, and that otherwise, the airplane looked and sounded like most other airplanes he observes.

According to a family friend, the flight instructor stated to him that “they had been doing some practicing at Daybreak and that the engine lost power, they came up short and they had to put it in the trees.” The friend stated that the pilot had disclosed additional detail to him but did not share it with NTSB.

Due to ongoing medical circumstances at the time of this report, the NTSB has not received a statement of events from either pilot.

The airplane came to rest inverted, about 380 ft southeast of WA46. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to both wings, the vertical stabilizer, and the fuselage.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Text from the NTSB; a preliminary report can change and names no cause. Open the NTSB docket for WPR26LA296 for the full record.