Cessna 170A accident near Metaline Falls, Washington, August 6, 2021
On August 6, 2021 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1950 Cessna 170A, registered N5459C, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Metaline Falls, Washington (Sullivan Lake State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to attain sufficient altitude during the initial climb to clear trees due to an encounter with windshear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2021 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Metaline Falls, Washington · Sullivan Lake State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A, built 1950 · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N5459C · registry record · serial 19493
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during takeoff initial climb, as the airplane passed over the departure end of the runway, it stopped climbing and started to sink. The pilot thought it was windshear and initiated a right turn to avoid trees, while lowering the nose to regain airspeed. The airplane subsequently descended into trees and terrain. The fuselage was substantially damaged. 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 initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 177 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 17,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 23, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,585 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 2021; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C145-2 (piston); 2,539 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 09S Metaline Falls WA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: DEW Deer Park WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 1,765 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from K63S, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.