Cessna 172S accident near Yelm, Washington, June 11, 2021
On June 11, 2021 at about 3:58 am local time, a 2004 Cessna 172S, registered N513WF, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Yelm, Washington. It was a personal 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
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2021 · about 3:58 am local time
- Place
- Yelm, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S, built 2004 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N513WF · registry record · serial 172S9756
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While en route about 3,500 ft mean sea level, the airplane’s engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine unsuccessfully and made a forced landing in a pasture. During the landing, the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that he did not know why the engine lost power. He stated that the fuel selector valve was in the “BOTH” position; the mixture control was set to rich; the throttle lever was in; and there was no adverse weather. He further stated the fuel-injected engine had no issues during the earlier portion of the flight and that the airplane had an adequate supply of fuel. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical damage to the engine. The engine was successfully run at various power settings for about 10 minutes. A functional check of the magnetos showed an appropriate decrease of about 50 rpm when operating on either the left or right magneto. When the throttle was advanced to the full forward position, the engine’s rpm was about 2,300. Overall, the examination revealed no evidence of any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The investigation was unable to determine the reason for the loss of engine power from the available evidence.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1:; 0 hours total
- Engine 2:; 0 hours total
- Engine 3:; 0 hours total
- Engine 4: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLS Kelso WA at 3:09 am
- Destination: TIW Tacoma WA
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 4°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
Weather report (METAR): KGRF 1103582 00000KT 10SM SCT050BKN200 16/04 A3009 RMK AO2A SLP193T01620042 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on February 28, 2023. 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, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airframe and Engine Examination Summary | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N513WF 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.