Cessna 172 N accident near Center Island, Washington, May 19, 2003
On May 19, 2003 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172 N, registered N5326J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Center Island, Washington (Center Island 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
The pilot did not attain the proper touchdown point during landing. The pilot's diverted attention, deer near the runway, and trees were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2003 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Center Island, Washington · Center Island · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 N · all 172 Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5326J · no longer on the register · serial 17273760
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot observed deer midfield on the runway during final approach to runway 17 and initiated a go around. On his second approach the pilot's focus of attention was on the deer to make sure they weren't moving to the runway center. The deer stayed clear but the distraction put the pilot too far down field to allow a safe go around. Committed to the landing, the pilot applied the brakes immediately on touch down but "grass skid" was a problem. The aircraft went past the end of the runway impacting two small trees resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
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
- Flight time: 139 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 19, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,614.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 9, 2003; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FHR Friday Harbor WA at 8:20 pm
- Destination: 78WA Center Island WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KFHR, 8 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.