Cessna 172K accident near Patos Island, Washington, July 18, 1994
On July 18, 1994 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N7417G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Patos Island, Washington. 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'S IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGMENT AND PERFORMANCE DUE TO DRUGS (MARIJUANA), AND HIS IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE FROM TREES, WHILE TAKING OFF TOWARD THE CLOSED END OF A COVE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 1994 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Patos Island, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N7417G · no longer on the register · serial 172-59117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, WHO DID NOT HOLD A SEAPLANE RATING, WAS TAKING OFF TOWARD THE CLOSED END OF A COVE IN A FLOAT-EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT. JUST AFTER LIFTOFF, HE ATTEMPTED TO FLY THROUGH A NARROW OPENING IN THE TREES, BUT HIS RIGHT WING TIP IMPACTED A TREE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN CARTWHEELED ONTO THE SHORELINE AND SLID INTO THE WATER. IT CAME TO REST WITH THE CABIN SUBMERGED. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT HAD BEEN RUNNING AT FULL POWER FROM THE TIME THE TAKEOFF WAS STARTED UNTIL THE PLANE CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT. A TOXICOLOGY TEST OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD SHOWED IT CONTAINED 0.015 UG/ML OF TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (MARIJUANA), AND 0.012 UG/ML OF TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID. A TEST OF HIS URINE SHOWED 0.326 UG/ML OF TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYULIC ACID.
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: 2,420 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Friday Harbor WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°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.