# NTSB SEA88LA178: Cessna 172P, N54867, Shelton, WA, September 11, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 11, 1988, 11:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: Shelton, WA
- Coordinates: 47.229942, -123.199996 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2299&lon=-123.2000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40885
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88LA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40885/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88LA178

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, go-around (vfr)
  - planned approach - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ABOUT 10 MINS AFTER T/O, THE PLT NOTED THE ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH AND ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE POINT OF DEPARTURE FOR PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. APPROACH WAS HIGH AND FAST, LEADING TO BALKED LNDG. ON THROTTLE APPLICATION, ENG QUIT. ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES BEYOND RUNWAY. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN WITH NO MALFUNCTIONS. THE FUEL SAMPLES WERE CLEAR OF CONTAMINATES. NO SYSTEM FAILURES WERE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54867](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54867-1990-08-16), registration cancelled 1990-08-16, S/N 17275073 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17275073
- Airframe hours: 3300
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Boeing Employees Flying Assn
- Registered owner: Boeing Employees Flying Assn.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 9, 1988, 92 hours before
- Destination: RTN, RENTON, WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: SHN, Sanderson Field, runway 23, 5,050 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 85 total, 11 in this make and model, 48 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19880911062459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880911062459A), Sep 11, 1988: Cessna 172P, Shelton, WA, Destroyed. Too high at midfield. Began go around and evidently overboosted engine which failed to respond. Crashed into trees.

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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