2 aboard when plane flips and skids while landing at Tri-Cities Airport

A pilot and passenger escaped safely when their small plane flipped on its roof and skidded on a runway at the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco Sunday night.

The Cessna 140 touched down approximately 4,200 feet from the approach end of Runway 21R and flipped over at approximately 8:56 p.m., May 31.

It slid for approximately 19 feet on its roof before coming to a rest.

Buck Taft, manager of the Tri-Cities Airport, said the crash resulted in a brief runway closure while wreckage was removed. It has since reopened.

Airport operations and commercial flights were not affected, he said.

The aircraft is registered to Stephen Gauntt of Kennewick, according to Federal Aviation Administration records.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 10:17 AM.

Wendy Culverwell

Tri-City Herald

Reporter Wendy Culverwell writes about growth, development and business for the Tri-City Herald. She has worked for daily and weekly publications in Washington and Oregon. She earned a degree in English and economics from the University of Puget Sound. Support my work with a digital subscription