Cessna 172N accident near Roche Harbor, Washington, July 29, 1982
On July 29, 1982 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N9528G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roche Harbor, Washington (John'S Island airport). It was a personal 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
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
- July 29, 1982 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Roche Harbor, Washington · John'S Island · 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
- N9528G · no longer on the register · serial 17273630
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FLEW TO A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP THAT WAS OPEN TO GRAZING ANIMALS. DURING ARRIVAL, HE MADE A LOW PASS TO CHECK THAT THE RUNWAY WAS CLEAR OF ANIMALS AND OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS. HE THEN CIRCLED TO LAND. DURING FINAL APPROACH, HE NOTICED SHEEP COMING ONTO THE RUNWAY. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, A THROTTLE REDUCTION WAS MADE AND THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE THRESHOLD ON A 10 DEGE UPSLOPE. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID ABOUT 50 FT THEN NOSED OVER.
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: 109 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 960 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Enterprizes, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 951 Roche Harbor WA at 10:55 am
- Destination: John'S Island WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,250 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.