Cessna 172N accident near Lisabuella, Washington, May 2, 1982
On May 2, 1982 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N54569, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lisabuella, Washington (Wax Orchard airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1982 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lisabuella, Washington · Wax Orchard · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N54569 · registry record · serial 17275002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED ON A FRESHLY MOWED, GRASS RUNWAY. HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD A LEFT CROSSWIND AT 10 GUSTING 15 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AT ABOUT 1/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. ABOUT 450 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT SLID INTO A TREE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPORT MANAGER STATED THAT THE PLANE LANDED DOWNWIND AND BOUNCED AND PROPOISED DOWN THE RUNWAY.
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: 75 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 520 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,424 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Competition Aircraft
The flight
- Departed from: WA69 Seattle WA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: 9FI Lisabuella WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 131°F (55°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.