Cessna 152 accident near Auburn, Washington, April 20, 1994
On April 20, 1994 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N159BC, was involved in an accident near Auburn, Washington (Auburn airport). 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
CLEARANCE WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY AN OTHER PERSON. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES WERE INADEQUATE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1994 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, Washington · Auburn · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N159BC · no longer on the register · serial 15280737
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS STANDING ON THE RAMP WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, AN INDIVIDUAL APPROACHED THE AIRPLANE ON THE RIGHT SIDE TO DELIVER A LETTER TO THE PILOT. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE CONVERSATION, THE INDIVIDUAL CLOSED THE DOOR AND WALKED UNDER THE RIGHT WING STRUT AND FORWARD. THE INDIVIDUAL DID NOT MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE FROM THE PROPELLER AND WAS STRUCK ON THE LEFT ARM AND SHOULDER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,565 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 1,245 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,901 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S36 Kent WA at 9:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from SEA, 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.