Cessna 172RG accident near Enumclaw, Washington, January 13, 2004
On January 13, 2004 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG, registered N64ML, was substantially damaged in an accident near Enumclaw, Washington. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power while maneuvering due to the failure of the heads of six of the eight cam followers. Factors include the pilot's decision to keep the gear retracted during the forced landing, and the rough/uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 13, 2004 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Enumclaw, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N64ML · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0081
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a power-on stall sequence the aircraft's engine experienced a significant partial power loss, followed by the engine oil pressure dropping to zero. Since there was no suitable landing area directly below the area where the power loss occurred, the pilot headed to the south and attempted to land on what appeared to be the only available reasonably safe terrain. Based upon his quick evaluation of the landing site, the pilot chose to leave the gear fully retracted. Although the initial touchdown was uneventful, soon thereafter the aircraft contacted the rough/uneven terrain in a manner that resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. A post-accident inspection of the engine revealed that the crankcase mating flange was cracked in two different places, and the number three cylinder push rod and push rod tube were bent in a manner consistent with compression of the pushrod from its ends. The heads of six of the eight cam followers had fractured, the crankcase surface behind all but two of the follower heads was dented and gouged, and the crankcase surface behind two of the heads had small chunks of fractured steel imbedded/crushed into the metal of the case. Removal of the oil pan revealed about a dozen pieces of metal that were clearly identifiable as sections of the cam follower heads. Further inspection of the engine and its cylinders could not determine the initiating event leading to the fracturing of the cam followers.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command; 2,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 17, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 372 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 237 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 6, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,224 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 2003; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BFI Seattle WA at 10:45 pm
- Destination: BFI
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from BFI, 22 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N64ML the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.