Cessna 172S accident near Snohomish, Washington, April 4, 2009
On April 4, 2009 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N4915F, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Snohomish, Washington (Harvey Field). 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
An in-flight collision with a crow.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 2009 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Snohomish, Washington · Harvey Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N4915F · no longer on the register · serial 172S7565
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was returning from the practice area on a supervised solo. He was on the downwind leg for landing at 1,500 feet when he saw a crow rising from below on the airplane's left side. He heard a large thud and felt the airplane buffet. The student pilot looked to verify that no other airplanes were in the vicinity. He checked the elevator and rudder visually and by "crabbing" the airplane using the rudder and adding power; he determined that the airplane was controllable and could be landed safely. Three outboard ribs of the left wing and the spar sustained substantial damage; the top and bottom skins were wrinkled from the leading edge to the spar.
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
What happened, in order
- Birdstrike during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Ribs/bulkheads (on wing) › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Spar (on wing) › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Plates/skins (on wing) › Damaged/degraded
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 34 hours in all; 34 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,021 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 2009; 21 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S43 Snohomish WA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: S43 Snohomish WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KPAE, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N4915F the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.