Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

June 24, 2026 · Cessna 195 · N3877V

Pasco, WA

Overview

Report Status
Factual report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 24, 2026
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Pasco, WA
Aircraft
Cessna 195 (1949)
Tail Number
N3877V
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR26FA233

On June 24, 2026, about 1428 Pacific daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 195, N3877V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pasco, Washington. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 personal flight. Preliminary recordings from the Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) indicated that the accident pilot transmitted to the ATCT about 1421, when they were about 15 miles south of PSC and stated that they were a float plane with the intent to land on the Columbia River. The controller stated that landing would be at their own risk and requested that they report when their landing was assured. The pilot responded that they would report when their landing was assured. The controller transmitted PSC’s current wind and altimeter setting to the accident pilot, with no further transmissions received from the pilot. According to multiple witness accounts and videos received, the accident airplane overflew the Ed Hendler Bridge from east to west and crossed the bridge between the north tower and the river’s eastern shoreline. It continued over the river on a westerly heading for about 9 seconds, then abruptly pitched nose down for 1 second before it struck a high tension transmission line, about 1,040 ft west of the bridge. Subsequently, the accident airplane descended vertically into the Columbia River and came to rest in the river inverted, about 100-200 ft from the river’s eastern shoreline. (see Figure 1.) Figure 1. Accident sequence over river. According to personnel at the Port of Kennewick, located on Clover Island in Kennewick, Washington, the pilot of the accident airplane contacted the Port by telephone, prior to the date of the accident and inquired about fuel availability at the Port’s marina. Employees at the Port communicated with the accident pilot regarding fueling options via the Port’s dock side fueling station and offered additional information for a local company who offered mobile fueling services for the same type of fuel, should the airplane need more fuel than the Port could provide. According to the passenger’s family members, the flight originated from the airplane’s base of operations on the Napa River, near Napa, California, on the morning of the accident. The intended destination was the Tanglefoot Seaplane Base (D28), Cavanaugh Bay, Idaho. The airplane was removed from the river by crane and set down on its right side, about 1,500 ft downriver from the impact site. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the floats and float struts, the empennage, engine and propeller assembly all remained attached to the fuselage. Both wings were observed separated from the fuselage at their roots and displayed leading edge crushing and denting. The left wing displayed tearing, crushing, and scraping at mid span, from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The left aileron was not observed with the recovered wreckage. Both wing flaps were observed in the extended position. Members of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and Columbia Basin Dive Rescue team conducted a search for the aileron, however, it was not located. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

Full Narrative

On June 24, 2026, about 1428 Pacific daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 195, N3877V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Pasco, Washington. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 personal flight. Preliminary recordings from the Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) indicated that the accident pilot transmitted to the ATCT about 1421, when they were about 15 miles south of PSC and stated that they were a float plane with the intent to land on the Columbia River. The controller stated that landing would be at their own risk and requested that they report when their landing was assured. The pilot responded that they would report when their landing was assured. The controller transmitted PSC’s current wind and altimeter setting to the accident pilot, with no further transmissions received from the pilot. According to multiple witness accounts and videos received, the accident airplane overflew the Ed Hendler Bridge from east to west and crossed the bridge between the north tower and the river’s eastern shoreline. It continued over the river on a westerly heading for about 9 seconds, then abruptly pitched nose down for 1 second before it struck a high tension transmission line, about 1,040 ft west of the bridge. Subsequently, the accident airplane descended vertically into the Columbia River and came to rest in the river inverted, about 100-200 ft from the river’s eastern shoreline. (see Figure 1.) Figure 1. Accident sequence over river. According to personnel at the Port of Kennewick, located on Clover Island in Kennewick, Washington, the pilot of the accident airplane contacted the Port by telephone, prior to the date of the accident and inquired about fuel availability at the Port’s marina. Employees at the Port communicated with the accident pilot regarding fueling options via the Port’s dock side fueling station and offered additional information for a local company who offered mobile fueling services for the same type of fuel, should the airplane need more fuel than the Port could provide. According to the passenger’s family members, the flight originated from the airplane’s base of operations on the Napa River, near Napa, California, on the morning of the accident. The intended destination was the Tanglefoot Seaplane Base (D28), Cavanaugh Bay, Idaho. The airplane was removed from the river by crane and set down on its right side, about 1,500 ft downriver from the impact site. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the floats and float struts, the empennage, engine and propeller assembly all remained attached to the fuselage. Both wings were observed separated from the fuselage at their roots and displayed leading edge crushing and denting. The left wing displayed tearing, crushing, and scraping at mid span, from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The left aileron was not observed with the recovered wreckage. Both wing flaps were observed in the extended position. Members of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and Columbia Basin Dive Rescue team conducted a search for the aileron, however, it was not located. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:28 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 195
Tail NumberN3877V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point37 F
Altimeter29.87 inHg
Observation Time13:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data