# NTSB SEA77FA052: Cessna 172K, N78597, Skykomish, WA, September 16, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 16, 1977
- Place: Skykomish, WA · SKYKOMISH, WA
- Location: 47.7099° N, 121.3573° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Skykomish, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7099&lon=-121.3573&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 14, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145656
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA77FA052
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA77FA052

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2208  77/9/16  NR.SKYKOMISH,WA       CESSNA 172K         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 31, 92 TOTAL
        TIME - 2200                    N78597              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 4 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SKYKOMISH STATE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         SKYKOMISH,WA                 BOEING FIELD,SEATTLE
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       42
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ATT DEPT FM UNLIT TREE BORDERED MTN STRIP AT NIGHT. PLT USED STRIP PRIOR IN DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78597](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78597-1977-11-07), registration cancelled 1977-11-07, S/N 17257679 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Skykomish State

## 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 19770916029979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770916029979A), Sep 16, 1977: Cessna 172K, Skykomish, WA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Att dept fm unlit tree bordered mtn strip at night. Plt used strip prior in daylight conditions.

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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