Cessna 152 accident near Nas Whidbey, Washington, March 18, 2002
On March 18, 2002 at about 1:49 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25455, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nas Whidbey, Washington (Nas Whidbey Island airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to taxi behind a standing large military turbo-prop aircraft, which he knew may be performing periodic engine test runs, without first initiating communications to insure that the engine power on the standing aircraft would remain at idle as his aircraft taxied passed, thus leading to an inadvertent encounter with high-power propwash.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2002 · about 1:49 am local time
- Place
- Nas Whidbey, Washington · Nas Whidbey Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N25455 · registry record · serial 15280665
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Although the pilot of the Cessna 152, who had been cleared by the tower to taxi into position and hold for takeoff, was aware that the large military turboprop aircraft he had to taxi behind may be doing periodic engine runs, he did not initiate communications that would positively ascertain the power settings of its engines. Just about the time he attempted to taxi past, two of the turboprop's four engines were advanced to a high power setting, and the resultant propwash flipped the 152 on its back. The crew of the turboprop aircraft, who were monitoring ground, were not aware that an aircraft was taxiing behind them after being cleared by the tower to taxi into takeoff position and hold.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,397 hours in all; 451 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 1,397 as pilot in command; 1,078 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 5, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 14, 2002; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KNUW Nas Whidbey WA
- Destination: KNUM
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.