Cessna 172P accident near Easton, Washington, June 14, 1999
On June 14, 1999 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N62800, was substantially damaged in an accident near Easton, Washington (Easton State airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's delayed remedial action. Factors include the student allowing the aircraft to climb too steeply at too low an airspeed, and the soft/rough terrain on which the aborted takeoff took place.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1999 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Easton, Washington · Easton State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N62800 · no longer on the register · serial 17275340
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing to the east during a simulated engine-out landing on the turf airstrip, the student was instructed to make a takeoff to the west using soft field techniques. Because the student had never performed an actual or simulated soft field takeoff before, the instructor explained the procedures to her while the aircraft idled at the east end of the runway. The student then initiated the takeoff to the west. During the takeoff roll, the airspeed stabilized around 45 MPH, and the instructor advised the student that as soon as the aircraft lifted off it would accelerate. After liftoff, the student climbed out at a rate that caused the airspeed to remain at 45 MPH, and after passing tree-top level about half way down the 2,640 foot airstrip, the aircraft stopped climbing. At that point the instructor took over and lowered the nose in an attempt to gain airspeed. In order to get the aircraft to accelerate, the instructor had to allow it to drop back toward the runway surface. As it neared the surface, the instructor became unsure whether the aircraft would clear the trees at the west end of the airstrip. He therefore aborted the takeoff and attempted to land on the remaining runway. During that attempt, the aircraft dropped in from about 20 feet above the surface, and after the nose gear bent back, the nose dug into the soft terrain and the aircraft flipped over on its back.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 495 hours in all; 370 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 440 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELN Ellensburg WA at 7:45 pm
- Destination: BFI Boeing Field WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 2,640 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.