Cessna 172M accident near East Sound, Washington, May 30, 2022
On May 30, 2022 at about 6:35 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna 172M, registered N20487, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near East Sound, Washington (Waldron Airstrip airport). It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 pilot's failure to attain a proper touchdown point which, resulted in a runway overrun and collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2022 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- East Sound, Washington · Waldron Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M, built 1973 · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N20487 · registry record · serial 17261330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane floated over the grass runway in ground effect for longer than expected and touched down midfield. He was unable to stop on the wet runway and the airplane slid into heavy brush and trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. 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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 630 hours in all; 216 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 581 as pilot in command; 15 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 10, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,116.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 1,037 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KORS Eastsound WA at 6:34 pm
- Destination: 90WA Waldron Island WA
- Runway 14, 2,700 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,600 ft; not recorded at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from KORS, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KORS 301835Z AUTO 19005KT 5SM -RA BR BKN046 11/10 A3017 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 28, 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 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.