Cessna Aircraft CO E162 accident near Bellingham, Washington, September 21, 2014
On September 21, 2014 at about 9:38 pm local time, a 2011 Cessna Aircraft CO E162, registered N6035S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Bellingham, Washington (Bellingham Intl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate flare and failure to maintain aircraft control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2014 · about 9:38 pm local time
- Place
- Bellingham, Washington · Bellingham Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna Aircraft CO E162 UNDESIGNAT, built 2011
- Registration
- N6035S · no longer on the register · serial 16200155
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot planned to conduct a solo cross-country flight to another towered airport. His preflight inspection, engine start and runup, takeoff, and flight of the special light-sport airplane were all uneventful. When he neared the destination airport, he was instructed to enter the traffic pattern on the downwind leg for runway 16. He was subsequently cleared for "closed traffic" pattern work, and instructed to follow another airplane. The pilot informed the air traffic controller that he intended to do a full stop landing, and shortly thereafter, was instructed to turn base leg. He selected full flaps (40 degrees) for landing after turning final. According to the pilot, the wind was from 180 degrees at 7 knots, and the airplane was "just a little" to the right of the centerline for part of the last segment of the final approach. The pilot flared for landing, and the airplane touched down on the main gear, but then "ballooned" back airborne. The airplane bounced again, and then on the third bounce, the nose landing gear failed. The airplane slid to a stop on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage structure. During the bounce sequence, the pilot only used the control wheel to attempt to control and stop the bounces; he did not vary the throttle setting. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 42 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,384 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 8, 2014; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,321 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 (piston); 1,384 hours total
- Operator: Rainier Flight Service LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KRNT Renton WA at 8:25 pm
- Destination: KBLI Bellingham WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 6,701 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from BLI
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.
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.