Cessna 172N accident near Ellensburg, Washington, October 1, 1993
On October 1, 1993 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N172LS, was destroyed in an accident near Ellensburg, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE STALLING SPEED (VS), AND HIS INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION, AND AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 1993 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Ellensburg, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N172LS · no longer on the register · serial 172-70248
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SCOUT HUNTING AREAS AT A LOCATION WHERE THE PILOT PLANNED TO HUNT ELK DURING THE UPCOMING WEEK, THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING MANEUVERED AT LOW-LEVEL IN-AND-AROUND A CANYON ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF AN ELK PRESERVE. WHILE THE PILOT AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS WERE MAKING OBSERVATIONS OF THE TERRAIN THEY HOPED TO HUNT, THE PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED FROM THE TASK OF FLYING THE AIRCRAFT. HE ALLOWED HIS AIRSPEED TO DETERIORATE TO A POINT WHERE THE AIRCRAFT STALLED, AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT SPUN INTO THE TERRAIN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 320 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,668 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 1993; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NUW Oak Harbor WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 31.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.