Cessna 172P accident near Seattle, Washington, March 9, 1991
On March 9, 1991 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N64599, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seattle, Washington (Boeing Field). It was an instructional 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
A HARD LANDING DUE TO THE PILOT'S MIDJUDGEMENT OF HIS TOUCHDOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 1991 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Seattle, Washington · Boeing Field · 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
- N64599 · no longer on the register · serial 17275589
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT OBSERVED A BENT PROPELLER TIP WHILE HE WAS SECURING THE AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THAT HE HAD ENCOUNTERED A GUST WHILE LANDING AND HAD LANDED SOMEWHAT HARD. THE FIREWALL OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS ALSO DAMAGED.
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
- Flight time: 34 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wings Aloft, INC
The flight
- Departed from: TIW Tacoma WA at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 10,001 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.