Cessna 172G accident near Packwood, Washington, March 24, 2003
On March 24, 2003 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N4150L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Packwood, Washington (Packwood airport). It was a personal 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
Loss of partial engine power for undetermined reasons during the initial climb after takeoff. Loose gravel/sandy was a factor during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 2003 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Packwood, Washington · Packwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4150L · registry record · serial 17254219
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non certificated pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, he did not feel that the aircraft was "climbing like normal" and chose to initiate a precautionary off airport landing beyond the departure end of the runway. During the landing roll in a gravel pit area, the airplane traveled through a large puddle of water. The nose landing gear sheared off and the airplane subsequently nosed over. Witnesses stated that the engine sounded like it was "cutting out." The pilot did not provide requested maintenance information and the reason for the possible partial loss of power was not determined.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 55S Packwood WA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 1S0 Puyallup WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,262 ft by 38 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 55 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from TDO, 45 miles away
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.