Cessna 182 accident near Roche Harbor, Washington, June 16, 1996
On June 16, 1996 at about 8:05 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5686B, was destroyed in an accident near Roche Harbor, Washington (Roche Harbor airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to attain a proper touchdown point for landing. Factors relating to the accident were: downdraft conditions and soft/uneven terrain short 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 16, 1996 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Roche Harbor, Washington · Roche Harbor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5686B · no longer on the register · serial 33686
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During final approach to runway 24 at a private airport, the pilot encountered a downdraft and touched down more than 100 feet short of the threshold. During the aircraft's rollout over soft/uneven terrain preceding the threshold, the nose landing gear collapsed. The aircraft then passed onto the runway surface skidding to a stop. A postcrash fire then consumed the aircraft after all four occupants exited.
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: 205 hours in all; 202 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AWO Arlington WA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 9S1
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 4,300 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from YYJ, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.