Cessna 177 accident near Snohomish, Washington, January 31, 2000
On January 31, 2000 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N3433T, was destroyed in an accident near Snohomish, Washington (Harvey Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to attempt a go-around, then attempt to stop on the wet grass. Factors include variable winds, the pilot's inadequate compensation for the winds conditions, his inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, wet grass along the side of the runway, and a residence near the edge of the runway surface.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 2000 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Snohomish, Washington · Harvey Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3433T · no longer on the register · serial 17700733
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on short-final to a full-stop landing, the wind shifted and the aircraft's rate of descent increased. The pilot corrected with partial power, but did not initiate the landing flare soon enough to keep the aircraft from hitting the runway hard enough to bounce back into the air. After ballooning back into the air, the aircraft started drifting sideways and touched down in an open grassy area alongside the runway. Although the power was at idle at that point, and the pilot had ample room to bring the aircraft to a stop on the grass, he elected to abort the landing. After adding power and trying to get the aircraft to lift off using two different flap settings, the pilot elected to abort the go-around because he thought he might not clear obstacles ahead. During his attempt to stop the aircraft on the wet grass, it slid into a residence just off to the side of the southeast end of the runway. After impacting the house, both the residence and the aircraft caught on fire.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 75S Burlington WA at 11:00 pm
- Destination: S43
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 2,660 ft by 36 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 15,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.