Cessna 182 accident near Arlington, Washington, February 10, 2019
On February 10, 2019 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1961 Cessna 182, registered N9101X, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near Arlington, Washington (Arlington Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's distraction during the engine warm-up, which resulted in the airplane's collision with a hangar. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to set the brakes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 2019 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Washington · Arlington Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 D, built 1961 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N9101X · registry record · serial 18253501
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had the seat all the way back and that he was checking the weather because he planned to perform a 10-minute-long engine warm-up. After 5 minutes, he noticed that the engine rpm increased from 800 to 1,200. He recalled that when he noticed the increase in engine rpm, he was about to adjust the throttle, but the airplane began to roll and collided with a hangar. The pilot added that the accident could have been prevented by keeping his feet on the brakes during the engine warm-up. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during standing (engine(s) start-up)
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Airport structure › Effect on equipment
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Airport structure › Effect on operation
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 640 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 640 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 29, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,698 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fly-By Inc
The flight
- Departed from: AWO Arlington WA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: AWO Arlington WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from KAWO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 5, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.