Cessna 172 accident near Twisp, Washington, May 1, 1995
On May 1, 1995 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N2548Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Twisp, Washington (Twisp Municipal airport). 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 INSTALLATION OF A NOSE LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY BOLT (NO COTTER KEY INSTALLED) BY UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. THIS LED TO A FAILURE OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR STEERING AND SUBSEQUENT NOSEOVER DURING LANDING ROLLOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1995 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Twisp, Washington · Twisp Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N2548Y · registry record · serial 17249848
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER SEVERAL TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS, THE PRIVATE PILOT MADE A FULL STOP LANDING, TAXIED BACK, AND TOOK OFF AGAIN. NO PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED DURING THE TAKEOFF. THE PILOT ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND ATTEMPTED ANOTHER LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE IMMEDIATELY LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE NOSE LANDING GEAR SETTLED ONTO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, SKIDDED INTO THE DIRT, NOSED OVER, AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT THE CENTER SCISSOR BOLT WAS MISSING AND THE NOSE GEAR WAS COCKED TO ONE SIDE. THE BOLT WAS FOUND ON THE RUNWAY ABOUT 800 FEET FROM THE WRECKAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE BOLT REVEALED THAT NO COTTER KEY HAD BEEN INSTALLED TO SECURE THE NUT.
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: 133 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,234 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 1994; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,700 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:34 pm from EAT, 37 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.