Cessna 172M and Pitts S-2A accident near Tacoma, Washington, November 27, 1987
On November 27, 1987 at about 10:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172M (N9134H) and Pitts S-2A (N526DP), were involved in the same accident near Tacoma, Washington (Tacoma Narrows airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 1987 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tacoma, Washington · Tacoma Narrows · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9134H · registry record · serial 17265964
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Pitts S-2A · all S-2As on the register
- Registration
- N526DP · registry record · serial 2206
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172M final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA WAS AT THE RUNUP AREA FOR RUNWAY 35 PREPARING TO DO HIS RUNUP. THREE PITTS AIRCRAFT WERE TAXIING ABREAST OF EACH OTHER, WHEN ONE OF THE PITTS'S PROPELLER STRUCK THE RIGHT WINGTIP OF THE CESSNA CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE CESSNA AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PITTS.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Pitts S-2A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA WAS AT THE RUNUP AREA FOR RUNWAY 35 PREPARING TO DO HIS RUNUP. THREE PITTS AIRCRAFT WERE TAXIING ABREAST OF EACH OTHER, WHEN ONE OF THE PITTS'S PROPELLER STRUCK THE RIGHT WINGTIP OF THE CESSNA CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE CESSNA AND MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PITTS.
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 for the Cessna 172M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 144 hours in all; 144 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 113 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,307 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HQM Hoquiam WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from TIW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Pitts S-2A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,440 hours in all; 502 in this make and model; 270 in the last 90 days; 11,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA88LA027.