Cessna 152 accident near Ellensburg, Washington, January 28, 2003
On January 28, 2003 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N48769, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ellensburg, Washington (Bowers Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Aircraft control was not maintained during the landing roll. A tailwind and a snow bank were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 2003 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ellensburg, Washington · Bowers Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48769 · no longer on the register · serial 15283372
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that during the approach to runway 29, he was lined up with the runway centerline, 60 knots airspeed and he had red-over-white on the VASI. Touch down was made just after the numbers. After touchdown, the airplane started to veer to the right. The student pilot applied left rudder input, however, the airplane continued to veer/turn to the right. The right main landing gear lifted off the ground and the airplane traveled off the runway and collided with a snow bank. The aircraft subsequently nosed over. The winds at the time were reported from 090 degrees at five knots.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 26 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,836 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 24, 2002; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELN Ellensburg WA at 9:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from ELN
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.