Cessna 172K accident near Tacoma, Washington, June 3, 1990
On June 3, 1990 at about 6:23 am local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N79931, was destroyed in an accident near Tacoma, Washington (Gray Aaf airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDE PATH FOR LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH A TREE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 1990 · about 6:23 am local time
- Place
- Tacoma, Washington · Gray Aaf · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N79931 · no longer on the register · serial 17258258
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A VFR FLIGHT, THE FLIGHTS INTENDED DESTINATION WAS REPORTING IFR CONDITINS. THE PILOT OPTED TO DIVERT TO ANOTHER AIRPORT THAT WAS REPORTING VFR. DURING THE DESCENT FOR LANDING ON FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. POST CRASH INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. THE COCKPIT INTRUMENT PANEL WAS DESTROYED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE. THE FACE OF THE ALTIMETER, HOWEVER, WAS RETRIEVED. THE BAROMETRIC PRESSURE WINDOW DISPLAYED A SETTING OF 30.10 IN HG. THE LAST SETTING AIR TRAFFIC GAVE TO THE PILOT JUST PRIOR TO ACCIDENT WAS 30.02 IN HG, A DIFFERENCE OF .08 IN OR 80 FEET WHICH WOULD HAVE INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS 80 FEET HIGHER THAN ITS ACTUAL ALTITUDE ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.
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: 807 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 756 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,625 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 2, 1990; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA38 Monroe WA at 4:45 am
- Destination: OLM Olympia WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 6,100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:30 am from GRF, 1 miles away
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.