Cessna 172N accident near Snohomish, Washington, January 31, 2006
On January 31, 2006 at about 6:25 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N492SF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Snohomish, Washington (Harvey Field). 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
Carburetor heat was not used during the initial climb in probable serious carburetor icing conditions during cruise power. Carburetor icing conditions and wet terrain were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 2006 · about 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- Snohomish, Washington · Harvey Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N492SF · registry record · serial 17268310
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power after the aircraft attained an altitude of about 250 to 300 feet above ground level. The flight instructor took over the flight controls and accomplished an off airport landing in an open field that was flooded by recent rains. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. The wings and a lift strut were damaged, fuel was leaking from the fuel tank(s), and the top of the vertical stabilizer was crushed. After the wreckage was recovered the engine was prepared for an engine run. It was found that the engine started and ran smoothly with no anomalies noted during the run that lasted about 5 minutes in duration. The nearest weather reporting facility located 6 nautical miles to the west was reporting a temperature of 42 degrees F, and dew point of 36 degrees F. The carburetor icing probability chart indicated that for the reported temperature and dew point, the aircraft was operating in probable serious carburetor icing conditions at cruise or climb power.
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 single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,239 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 5,857 as pilot in command; 1,141 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,506 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 4,200 as pilot in command; 2 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,729 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2005; 65 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: S43 Snohomish WA at 6:23 pm
- Destination: S43
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,700 ft; a few clouds at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PAE, 6 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 N492SF 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.