Cessna 172I accident near Renton, Washington, July 21, 2021
On July 21, 2021, a 1968 Cessna 172I, registered N46287, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Renton, Washington (Will Rogers Wiley Post Meml airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The boat operator’s failure to remain a safe distance from the floatplane during the takeoff run, which resulted in a collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2021
- Place
- Renton, Washington · Will Rogers Wiley Post Meml · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172I, built 1968 · all 172Is on the register
- Registration
- N46287 · registry record · serial 17257157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that during the water takeoff to the north, in the floatplane, he noticed a jet boat that was operating about 1,000 ft east of the floatplane. The boat was traveling generally in the same direction and diverging from the area which they had planned to takeoff. During the takeoff run, the boat abruptly altered its course and began to converge upon the floatplane’s takeoff path. The flight instructor told the pilot receiving instruction to turn left, as he retarded the throttle to the idle position in an attempt to avoid the boat. The boat subsequently collided with the right side of the floatplane substantially damaging the right-side empennage and stabilizer. Just before the boat collided with the floatplane, the pilot observed that the boat operator was turned completely towards the rear of the boat. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Other
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Other
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 5,100 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 400 in the last 90 days; 155 in the last 30 days; 4,950 as pilot in command; 1,765 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 3, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 269 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 187 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 20, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,254 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 8, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 4,254 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12W/, 5,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KRNT
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRNT 202353Z 34004KT 10SM BKN036 22/12 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP205 T02170117 10217 20161 58017=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 12, 2021. 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/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1_PRI | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photograph | PDF, 1 page | 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.