Cessna 172 accident near Pasco, Washington, June 10, 2016
On June 10, 2016 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 172, registered N733EC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Pasco, Washington (Tri-Cities airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's failure to maintain pitch control during the simulated engine failure after takeoff, which resulted in a hard landing, landing gear(s) collapse, and wing damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 10, 2016 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pasco, Washington · Tri-Cities · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 N, built 1976 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N733EC · no longer on the register · serial 17268229
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that about 150 feet above the ground during the initial climb, he reduced the power to idle to demonstrate loss of engine power during takeoff. He further reported that he lowered the nose of the airplane to gain airspeed, but after about 2 seconds the airplane settled rapidly. The flight instructor advanced the throttle to full forward, and flared about 20 feet above the ground to arrest the sink rate. He reported that the airplane landed flat, all three landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded about 150 feet down the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. According to the flight instructor there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located on the airport, revealed that, about 37 minutes before the accident the wind was 200 degrees true at 16 knots, wind gusts 23 knots. A further review revealed that, about 27 minutes after the accident the wind was 190 degrees true at 17 knots, wind gusts 27 knots. The airplane landed on runway 21R.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Simulated/training event during takeoff
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command; 268 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 20, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 37 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bergstrom Aircraft INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PSC Pasco WA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: PSC Pasco WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21R, 7,711 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KPSC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.