Cessna 172I accident near Morton, Washington, August 3, 1984
On August 3, 1984 at about 1:45 am local time, a Cessna 172I, registered N8394L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morton, Washington (Strom Field). 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
- August 3, 1984 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Morton, Washington · Strom Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172I · all 172Is on the register
- Registration
- N8394L · no longer on the register · serial 17256594
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF AT ALT OF 3 TO 5 FT AGL THE DECISION WAS MADE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. PLT STATED WHEN THROTTLE WAS RETARDED LIFT IMPROVED SO FULL PWR WAS APPLIED. AT 15 FT AGL PLT REALIZED TREES AT END OF RWY COULD NOT BE CLEARED SO PLT ATTEMPTED ANOTHER ABORTED TAKEOFF. ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES 50 FT FROM THE END OF THE RWY WHILE AIRBORNE.
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: 131 hours in all; 116 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 91 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,899 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA39 Morton WA at 1:42 am
- Destination: WA39 Morton WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,000 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.