Cessna 170A accident near Everett, Washington, August 27, 2025
On August 27, 2025 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1951 Cessna 170A, registered N1755D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Everett, Washington (Seattle Paine Fld Intl 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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2025 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Everett, Washington · Seattle Paine Fld Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A, built 1951 · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N1755D · registry record · serial 20198
- 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 while landing with a crosswind the airplane bounced and while airborne she felt a wind gust. Subsequently, the airplane touched down and veered to the right into the wind. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and applied full left rudder then applied left brake. Despite her efforts the airplane ground looped, and the left wing contacted the runway surface resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation. At about the time of the accident, the airplane was landing on runway 16R, with the wind variable from 230° to 270° at 6-8 knots.
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 control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: sport pilot; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,502 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 194 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 6,337 as pilot in command; 3,356 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 8, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 97 hours in all
- Last flight review: October 4, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Boeing Employees Flying Association
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16R/, 9,010 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots, gusting 3
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from KPAE
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPAE 272153Z 23007KT 10SM CLR 23/14 A3002
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 –Left horizontal stab and elevator damage.
Photograph 2 –Left wing tip fairing and aileron damage.
Photograph 3 – Left wing tip fairing damage.
Photograph 4 – Left outboard wing upper surface damage.The 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 20, 2025. 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 | Photo Array-courtesy of the Pilot and FAA | PDF, 5 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.
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.