Cessna Aircraft CO 162 accident near Morton, Washington, July 30, 2021
On July 30, 2021 at about 6:31 pm local time, a 2011 Cessna Aircraft CO 162, registered N60524, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Morton, Washington (Strom Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nosewheel collapse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2021 · about 6:31 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Morton, Washington · Strom Field Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna Aircraft CO 162 NO SERIES, built 2011
- Registration
- N60524 · registry record · serial 16200192
- 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, while on final approach to the runway, he noticed that the airplane was high, and performed a forward slip to lose altitude. The pilot recovered from the slip about 75 to 100 ft above ground level and when the airplane landed without the stall horn sounding, the nosewheel collapsed and the propeller impacted the runway surface. The pilot pulled back on the control stick and the airplane became airborne 4 to 5 ft. The stall horn sounded, and the airplane touched down again coming to rest to the right of runway centerline. The fuselage and engine mount were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction 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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 421 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 326 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 26, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KRTN Renton WA at 5:44 pm
- Destination: 39P Morton WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 1,810 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:25 am from KCLS, 31 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCLS 301815Z AUTO 03012KT 9SM CLR 28/13 A3000 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Airplane
Photo 2 – Airplane damage
Photo 3 - Airplane damage
Photo 4 - Airplane damage
Photo 5 – Prop markings on the runway
Photo 6 – Skid marks on the runwayThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 17, 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/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement to FAA | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N60524 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200-D 210 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Strom Field · nearest airport
- Raton Muni/Crews Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Washington 2,713 since 1982 · 362 in the last ten years
- Washington 10,568 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR21LA309.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.