Cessna 172H accident near Inchelium, Washington, May 12, 1983
On May 12, 1983 at about 10:43 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N1498F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Inchelium, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 12, 1983 · about 10:43 pm local time
- Place
- Inchelium, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N1498F · no longer on the register · serial 54993
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INTENDED LANDING AREA WAS A DIRT ROAD APRX 1500 FT LONG. AFTER MAKING A LOW PASS TO CHECK THE AREA, THE PLT MADE AN APPROACH OVER TREES TO LAND, BUT WAS TOO HIGH, SO HE WENT AROUND. ON THE 3RD PASS, HE APPLIED FULL FLAPS. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS BLOWN OFF THE CENTERLINE OF THE LANDING AREA WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 10 FT FT AGL. HE ELECTED TO GO AROUND WHEN THE PLANE WAS APRX 1/2 TO 2/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE INTENDED LANDING AREA. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR 60 FT TREES & THE HIGH TERRAIN AT THE END OF THE ROAD. THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT STRUCK TREES AND THEN THE GROUND. THE PLT STATED THAT HE ACCIDENTLY LEFT THE FLAPS ABOUT 10 TO 15 DEG DOWN. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 2600 FT & THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 70 DEG.
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: 84 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 84 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 30, 1982; 180 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RLD Richland WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 1,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.