Cessna 120 accident near Rimrock, Washington, June 1, 1996
On June 1, 1996 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 120, registered N2965N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rimrock, Washington (Tieton State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff, and his excessive use of brakes while decelerating the airplane during the aborted takeoff. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's loading the airplane above its maximum gross weight, high density altitude, and the rough surface of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1996 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rimrock, Washington · Tieton State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N2965N · registry record · serial 13223
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted to take off from a 2,471-foot-long rough turf runway. He reported that the takeoff attempt went normally until the airplane reached a speed of 40 to 45 MPH and that the airplane did not accelerate beyond that speed. Unable to accelerate or to get airborne by the point on the runway at which he was accustomed to doing so, the pilot aborted the takeoff and initiated braking. The tailwheel-equipped airplane nosed over onto its back about 200 feet short of the runway end. After the accident, an FAA inspector computed the airplane to be 32 pounds over maximum gross weight. The U.S. Government and Washington state airport directories indicated that the unattended airport was closed form October 1 through June 1. Density altitude at the airport was calculated to be 3,424 feet.
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: 428 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 329 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,276 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1995; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA49 at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,471 ft by 140 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.