Yakovlev YAK 52 N2YK

Summary

On 26 April 2018 at about 23:20 local time, a Yakovlev YAK 52 registered N2YK, operated by Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum Inc, was involved in an accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 April 2018 at 23:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Hillsboro, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Portland-Hillsboro (HIO)

Coordinates

45.5156, -123.0144

Aircraft

Yakovlev YAK 52

Registration

N2YK

Category

Airplane

Year built

1993

Engines

1

Operator

Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Creswell → Scappoose

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR18LA127

2 people were seriously injured.

A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to continue flight instead of conducting a precautionary landing at nearby airports. 

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were flying the airplane in formation with another airplane on a daytime visual flight rules positioning flight. According to the pilot of the other airplane, while abeam an airport on their route of flight, the accident pilot informed him that the engine had started to "miss" and that they needed to change their destination. As the airplane was south of another airport, the accident pilot informed the pilot of the other airplane that he might have to declare an emergency; however, he did not state the nature of his emergency. The flight continued, despite repeated attempts by the pilot of the other airplane to communicate with the accident pilot with no response. The pilot of the other airplane reported that both airplanes had overflown six airports that would have been suitable for an emergency landing. Ultimately, the accident airplane descended to a low altitude and impacted trees just south of the airport at which the accident pilot had originally intended to land. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The accident pilot had no memory of the accident sequence or the events that led to the impact with trees and terrain. The passenger recalled that at one point the engine sputtered. Postaccident examination of the airframe, engine, and accessories revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.