Cessna 172P accident near Renton, Washington, August 6, 1983
On August 6, 1983 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N65712, was substantially damaged in an accident near Renton, Washington (Renton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- August 6, 1983 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Renton, Washington · Renton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N65712 · no longer on the register · serial 17275830
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED IN AN ABORTED TAKEOFF AFTER LOSS OF CONTROL IN A CROSSWIND. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD JUST BEGUN ROTATION WHEN THE ACFT VEERED LEFT. HE FELT HE COULD NOT CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF AND CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND BEGAN A SERIESOF BOUNCES TO A STOP. THE NOSEWHEEL AND PROPELLER WERE DAMAGED AND THE FIREWALL WAS DISPLACED. THE WIND VELOCITY WAS REPORTED AS 13 KTS WITH NO GUSTS NOTED.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 36 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 160 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 160 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNT Renton WA
- Destination: RNT Renton WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,379 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from RNT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.