# Accident 20230518006459A: Cessna 172H, Seattle, WA, May 18, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 18, 2023, 18:10 local time
- Place: Seattle, WA
- Airport: Boeing Field/King County International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.6131° N, 122.3553° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6131&lon=-122.3553&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2550L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2550L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172H (registry code 2072424, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,490 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA196) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230518006459A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MAY 18, 2023, @ 1810 HRS, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ INBOUND TO BFI, PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) REPORTED TO LCW THAT HE HAD LOST ENGINE POWER OVER NORTH ELLIOT BAY, SEATTLE AND WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY.  AIRCRAFT DITCHED IN THE WATER APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS SOUTH OF PIER 69 IN ELLIOT BAY.  PIC EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMERGED IN ABOUT 75 FEET OF WATER.  PIC WAS RECOVERED BY SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO HARBOR VIEW MEDICAL CENTER WITH MINOR INJURIES.

METAR OBSERVATION: KBFI 190053Z 24005KT 10SM FU CLR 24/16 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP143 T02440156

ON MAY 20, 2023, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS RECOVERED FROM ELLIOT BAY AND SUBSEQUENTLY TRANPORTED TO SALVAGE FACILITY PENDING AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE INSPECTION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR23LA196](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA196), May 19, 2023: Cessna 172H (N2550L), Seattle, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A stuck exhaust valve that resulted in a partial loss of engine power and a forced water ditching.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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