# NTSB SEA01LA076: Cessna 172 N, N8402E, Sultan, WA, April 21, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 21, 2001, 16:43 local (23:43 UTC)
- Place: Sultan, WA
- Coordinates: 47.850841, -121.74015 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8508&lon=-121.7401&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 27, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Textron Lycoming, Cessna Aircraft Company
- NTSB case key (mKey): 52133
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA01LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52133/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA01LA076

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees and terrain during the airplane's initial climb.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

Shortly after departure, during the initial climb out, the airplane collided with trees and terrain approximately 1,000 feet beyond the departure end of the turf runway.  A witness to the accident (a certified pilot) reported that the airplane appeared to stall just before colliding with trees.  The pilot stated that he noted a decreasing airspeed just before colliding with tree tops.  Post-accident examination of the airplane by personal from the NTSB, Cessna Aircraft and Textron Lycoming revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure.

## Factual narrative

On April 21, 2000, at 1643 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N airplane, N8402E, sustained substantial damage after colliding with trees and terrain shortly after takeoff from a turf airstrip near Sultan, Washington.  The airplane is owned by the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal/pleasure flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The private pilot and the one passenger aboard the airplane sustained minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.

In a telephone interview on April 23, 2001, the pilot reported that shortly after takeoff the airplane "settled" into the treetops.  The airplane impacted trees and terrain approximately 1,000 feet beyond the departure end of the runway.

A witness to the accident (a certified pilot) reported that shortly after departure, the airplane appeared to stall just before colliding with trees.

Post-accident examination of the airplane by personal from the NTSB, Cessna Aircraft and Textron Lycoming revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8402E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8402E-2018-01-26), registration cancelled 2018-01-26, S/N 17272194, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172 N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17272194
- Airframe hours: 6211
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Todd A. Curtis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 26, 2000, 14 hours before
- Departed: WA64, Sultan, WA
- Destination: WA64
- Airport: S86, Sky Harbor, runway 07, 1,930 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 9, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 396 total, 360 in this make and model, 363 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: PAE, 20 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20010421006839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010421006839A), Apr 21, 2001: Cessna 172N, Sandpoint, ID, No damage. (-23) NTSB personnel stated that the pilot told him he entered into an inadvertent stall during the inital climb, striking trees. The a/c came to rest in a 45…

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.

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