Cessna 172N and amateur-built SA300 accident near Snohomish, Washington, August 31, 1992
On August 31, 1992 at about 11:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172N (N737TK) and amateur-built SA300 (N548CL), were involved in the same accident near Snohomish, Washington (Harvey Field). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S POOR VFR PROCEDURES AND HIS INADEQUATE MONITORING OF THE UNICOM FREQUENCY.
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE OTHER PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1992 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Snohomish, Washington · Harvey Field · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N737TK · no longer on the register · serial 17269661
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built SA300
- Registration
- N548CL · registry record · serial 548
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172N final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA TAXIED HIS AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION OF THE TURF RUNWAY (RWY 31) AT THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT DURING WHICH HE COLLIDED WITH THE STARDUSTER WHICH WAS ROLLING OUT FOLLOWING LANDING. THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA REPORTED THAT HE HAD OBSERVED THE TURF RUNWAY CROSSING CAUTIONARY SIGN AND ADMITTED TO THE INTERVIEWING FAA INSPECTOR THAT HE HAD NOT CLEARED THE INTERSECTION FOR ANY POSSIBLE LANDING TRAFFIC PRIOR TO ENTERING. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT RADIO WAS OPERATING ON THE LOCAL UNICOM FREQUENCY, HE REPORTED THAT HE NEVER HEARD ANY TRANSMISSION FROM THE STARDUSTER. A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT REPORTED HEARING THE PILOT OF THE STARDUSTER ANNOUNCE HIS ENTRY INTO THE PATTERN, AS WELL AS A CALL TO BASE TURN AND FINAL. THE STARDUSTER PILOT REPORTED NEVER SEEING THE CESSNA UNTIL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE COLLISION.
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 amateur-built SA300 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE STARDUSTER RADIOED HIS ENTRY INTO THE LANDING PATTERN AS WELL AS THE BASE TURN AND FINAL ON THE AIRPORT UNICOM FREQUENCY. AFTER REPORTEDLY CLEARING THE RUNWAY VISUALLY HE TOUCHED DOWN AND DURING THE ROLLOUT OBSERVED THE CESSNA TAXIING ACROSS THE RUNWAY DURING WHICH TIME THE TWO AIRCRAFT COLLIDED.
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 172N from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,238 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S43
- Destination: BFI Seattle WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from PAE, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built SA300 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 980 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 25, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 1,985 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S88 Arlington WA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,400 ft by 75 ft
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.