Cessna 172S accident near Renton, Washington, April 24, 2001
On April 24, 2001 at about 4:43 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N435SP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Renton, Washington (Renton Municipal airport). It was an instructional 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
A Canadian goose which crossed the aircraft's flight path and impacted the left wing during the aircraft's final approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2001 · about 4:43 pm local time
- Place
- Renton, Washington · Renton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N435SP · registry record · serial 172S8304
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot-in-command, accompanied by a check pilot flight instructor, was on final approach to land on runway 15 in the Cessna 172S when two Canada geese came into the pilots field of view, flying from right to left. The aircraft was descending through 50 feet AGL and the geese were initially shielded from the pilots' view by the aircraft until they were past the nose. The pilot elected to not take any evasive action, but rather be prepared to control the airplane in the case of a collision. The pilot heard and felt a 'thump,' but did not experience any difficulty in controlling the airplane.
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: 376 hours in all; 228 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 238 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 21, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,660 hours in all; 965 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,556 as pilot in command; 496 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 28, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 655 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 7, 2000; 197 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Boeing Employees Flying Association
The flight
- Departed from: RNT Renton WA at 4:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,379 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from RNT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.