Cessna 172 accident near Port Townsend, Washington, July 21, 2019
On July 21, 2019 at about 11:20 pm local time, a 1965 Cessna 172, registered N3863L, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Port Townsend, Washington (Jefferson County Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2019 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Port Townsend, Washington · Jefferson County Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 G, built 1965 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N3863L · no longer on the register · serial 17254032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the approach for landing, the engine lost power, and the pilot completed a forced landing short of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane wreckage was sold before an examination could take place, so whether a mechanical anomaly or malfunction contributed to the accident could not be determined.
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 during takeoff/land during landing
- Unknown or undetermined during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 552 hours in all; 484 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 552 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,062 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 19, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FHR Friday Harbor WA at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:15 pm from 0S9, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on May 18, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot-statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation-safety in Motion Flight Center | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation-old Republic Insurance Group | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Email-wentworth Aircraft Inc | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array-first Responders | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.