Cessna 195, N3877V, fatal accident occurred on June 24, 2026, near Pasco, Washington

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N3877V

- History of Flight:
On June 24, 2026, at about 1528 local, a Cessna 195, N3877V, was destroyed when it collided with a high-voltage transmission line and the waters of the Columbia River near Pasco, Washington. The private pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. The cross-country personal flight originated from Napa River, California, and was destined to Priest Lake, Idaho.

The purpose of the flight was to fly to a seaplane gathering event in Idaho.

There are no ADS-B tracks for the accident flight.

Multiple witnesses stated that the aircraft was flying low over the river.

According to video evidence, the airplane collided with a high-voltage transmission line that runs across the river and parallel to the Cable Bridge. The airplane nosed over and collided with the water. The wires were not equipped with orange safety balls, but were marked on the VFR sectional chart.

Figure 1: View of the towers/powerlines running across the river.

Figure 2: Tower as marked on sectional the VFR chart.

Figure 3: Powerlines as seen on OpenStreetMap

Figure 4: View of powerlines from ground level (and cable bridge in background)

Figure 5: View of powerlines from ground level (and cable bridge in background)

Figure 6: View of airplane on CCTV footage before it collided with the line.

The pilot, aged 64, held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land, sea, and airplane multiengine land. He also held an airframe/powerplant rating. His second class FAA medical was issued on June 2026. The passenger did not hold a pilot certificate.

The accident aircraft, serial number 7339, was manufactured in 1949. It was a 5-seat, high-wing, single engine airplane equipped with floats and powered by a Jacobs R-755A radial engine.

Weather conditions at the time were not remarkable.