Cessna 172N accident near Olympia, Washington, June 26, 2011
On June 26, 2011 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N5366J, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Olympia, Washington (Olympia Regional 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 failure to maintain clearance from obstacles.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2011 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Olympia, Washington · Olympia Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5366J · registry record · serial 17273764
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported leaving his covered parking spot and beginning a slow taxi towards the main taxiway. During his taxi, the pilot observed a stationary airplane in front and to his left with the propeller spinning. The pilot attempted to make eye contact with the person in the other airplane but was unsuccessful. Based on the stationary airplane's position, the pilot assumed that he could clear the spinning propeller by staying to the right of the yellow line. As the pilot was passing the other airplane he heard a loud noise as the left wing of the airplane collided with the propeller and sustained substantial damage. The propeller of the stationary airplane sustained minor damage. The pilot reported no mechanical issues or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The stationary airplane was undergoing a post maintenance equipment test with no intent for flight.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi (to runway)
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 490 hours in all; 490 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 383 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 21, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,265 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 13, 2011; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KOLM Olympia WA at 1:00 am
- Destination: S21 Sun River OR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 am from KOLM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.