Cessna 172N accident near Nordland, Washington, December 21, 1989
On December 21, 1989 at about 9:12 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N2228E, was destroyed in an accident near Nordland, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNDETERMINED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 1989 · about 9:12 pm local time
- Place
- Nordland, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N2228E · no longer on the register · serial 17271192
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO PHOTOGRAPH A SAILBOAT UNDERWAY IN PUGET SOUND. AFTER CIRCLING THE BOAT 3 TIMES AT A LOW ALTITUDE, THE PILOT HEADED SOUTHBOUND TOWARD THE DEST ARPT. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED ON RADAR CLIMBING TO 1500 AGL, REVERSE COURSE AND ENTER A 1000 FPM DIVE UNTIL LOST AT 500 FT AGL. THERE WAS NO RADIO COMM DURING THE DIVE FROM THE ACFT THAT WAS IN CONTACT WITH ATC. WITNESSES REPORTED ONLY SEEING A SPLASH AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE WRECKAGE OR OCCUPANTS COULD NOT BE LOCATED IN 500 FT DEEP WATER AND HAVE NOT BEEN RECOVERED. WEATHER WAS VFR.
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: 240 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,652 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1989; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TIW Tacoma WA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: TIW
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 700 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:57 pm from NUW, 17 miles away
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.