Cessna 120 accident near Deer Park, Washington, March 17, 2002
On March 17, 2002 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna 120, registered N77301, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deer Park, Washington (Deer Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of directional control while landing. A drainage ditch was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 2002 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Deer Park, Washington · Deer Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N77301 · no longer on the register · serial 11743
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that the airplane "bounced" (during a simulated crosswind landing) and directional control was lost. After the bounced landing, the airplane veered to the left (west), exited the runway and collided with a drainage ditch.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 843 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 618 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 11, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,259 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 20, 2001; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DEW Deer Park WA at 3:40 pm
- Destination: DEW
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 6,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from DEW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.