# Accident 20250720019879A: Cessna 172, Concrete, WA, July 20, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 20, 2025, 09:36 local time
- Place: Concrete, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.5204° N, 121.8774° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5204&lon=-121.8774&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6964A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6964A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172 (registry code 2072402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA216) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250720019879A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 20, 2025, PILOT DEPARTED BELLINGHAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KBLI) TO MEET WITH HIS FATHER IN DARRINGTON (1S2). VFR WEATHER, SUNNY DAY. WHILE ON ROUTE NEAR CONCRETE, WASHINGTON. PILOT STATED HE WANTED TO INSPECT AND POSSIBLY LAND AT ONE OF THE LONG GRAVEL BARS ON THE SKAGIT RIVER. WHILE INSPECTING POWER LINES IN THE APPROACH AREA OF THE INTENDED GRAVEL BAR THE PILOT SANK A BIT AND REGAINED ALTITUDE. THE PILOT SAW A POWER LINE PASS OVERHEAD AND IMMEDIATELY HIT THE REAR STABILIZER. THE PILOT STATED HE WERE WEARING POLARIZED SUNGLASSES ON WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR IN NOT SEEING THE POWER CABLE.

THE PLANE SPUN AROUND ALMOST 180 AND I WENT FULL THROTTLE AND PITCHED DOWN TO REGAIN AIRSPEED BUT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND WENT INTO THE HILLSIDE NEXT TO THE RIVERBANK. PILOT HIT THE BANK AND KNEW PILOT HAD NO MAJOR INJURIES. UPON EXITING THE AIRCRAFT, PILOT CALLED 911 AND REPORTED THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT WALKED UP THE RIVERBANK TO A BACKYARD ADJACENT TO THE RIVER TO GET HELP AND WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR XRAYS AND STITCHES IN HIS FOREHEAD.

THIS STATEMENT MAYBE AMENDED AFTER THE NTSB REPORT.

## 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 WPR25LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA216), Jul 20, 2025: Cessna 172 (N6964A), Concrete, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines, which resulted in a wire strike.

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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