Cessna 172N accident near Monroe, Washington, July 29, 1993
On July 29, 1993 at about 4:30 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N734DL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monroe, Washington (Firstair Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION BY THE PIC AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS, UNAVAILABILITY OF RUNWAY LIGHTS, AND LACK OF RECENT NIGHT FLIGHT TIME BY THE PIC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1993 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- Monroe, Washington · Firstair Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734DL · registry record · serial 17268773
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE AN APPROACH TO A ROW OF VEGETATION WHICH HE MISTOOK FOR THE RUNWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT THE UNLIGHTED AIRPORT ON A DARK NIGHT. HE VEERED TOWARD THE RUNWAY AT A LOW ALTITUDE, ATTEMPTING TO LINE UP WITH THE RUNWAY, AND THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT HAD NO RECENT NIGHT FLT TIME.
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: 418 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 380 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,110 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 1993; 31 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: PAE Everett WA at 3:45 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 2,092 ft by 34 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,500 ft; scat at 200 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 am from PAE, 12 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.