Cessna 172 accident near Deer Park, WA

On July 13, 2018, a Cessna 172 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Deer Park, WA. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

July 13, 2018

Place

Deer Park, WA

Aircraft

Cessna 172 · Airplane

Injuries

3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

47.941°N, 117.626°W

NTSB ID

20180713X54012

Official records · WPR18FA195

• Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation

Air traffic control records

• ATC Audio - Geg Atct Er: Audio recording (WAV), on ntsb.gov
• ATC Audio - Geg Atct Wr: Audio recording (WAV), on ntsb.gov
• ATC Flight Track - Figure 1: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC Flight Track - Figure 2: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
• ATC Flight Track - Figure 3: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov

NTSB summary

On July 13, 2018, at 1021 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172R airplane, N24442, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Deer Park, Washington. The flight instructor and two student pilots were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 141 instructional flight. The purpose of the flight was for the student pilot to undergo flight instruction. This was the first flight in his training program and the student pilot who was seated in the rear seat was an observer. The flight departed from Felts Field Airport (SFF), Spokane, Washington about 0955, and the pilots intended to remain in the local area. Following departure, the flight proceeded to the Clayton practice area located about 15 miles northwest of the airport. A review of the radar track data indicated that, after entering the practice area at 1010, (Figure 1) the airplane began a gradual 90° left turn and continued in a southwesterly direction, temporarily leaving the Clayton boundary. The airplane continued in a gradual climb to about 7,000 ft mean sea level (msl) and then made a 180° right turn. The flight track remained on a northeasterly heading until about 1018, at which point the airplane made another 180° left turn to a heading of 208°. The airplane proceeded about 2.5 miles at altitudes varying between about 7,000 to 7,450 ft msl. At 1020:53, the data indicated the airplane was at an altitude of 7,000 ft msl and an estimated ground speed of 77 knots. The airplane then made a sharp 90° right turn (Figure 2) and continued on a 305° heading

Probable cause

An in-flight breakup as a result of the airplane exceeding the structural strength of the airplane during a rapid descent that the flight instructor was unable to recover from following a collision with a large bird.

More accidents in WA

• Dehavilland DHC-3, Sep 4, 2022
• Cessna 208B, Oct 8, 2007
• Cessna 172P, Dec 7, 1991
• Piper PA-32-260, Jul 29, 2001
• Beech A60, Nov 21, 1992

Browse: Washington · Cessna aircraft

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.