This study was performed to investigate the feasibility of using sonic stress-wave technique in the longitudinal direction for the assessment of incipient decay of radiata pine wood. Decayed bending specimens by Tyromyces palustris and Gloeophyllum trabeum for varoious periods were tested nondestructively using stress-wave technique in the longitudinal direction and destructively. Decay detection, quantitative assessment of decay, and the prediction of residual strength of decayed wood with less than five percent weight loss can be feasible using stress-wave parameters (wave velocity, wave impedance, stress-wave elasticity) measured by stress-wave technique in the longitudinal direction and their percent reduction due to decay.