# NTSB WPR21LA332: Cessna 172P, N51547, Wenatchee, WA, August 29, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 29, 2021, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Wenatchee, WA · Near Ski Resort. Wooded mountanious terrain. - Coordinates: 47.287778, -120.40766 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2878&lon=-120.4077&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 103781 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA332 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103781/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103781 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA332 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s inadequate inflight navigation and the flight instructors delayed remedial action which resulted in a collision with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2072436), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, while conducting mountain flying training, and using roads as a primary means of navigation, the pilot rated student made a wrong turn due to smoke/haze and entered an area where the airplane could not out climb terrain. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane which subsequently collided with vegetation (trees). The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51547](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51547-2022-12-03), registration cancelled 2022-12-03, S/N 17274318, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274318 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 3545.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Galvin Flight Training - Registered owner: Taylor M. Ferre - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 17, 2021, 24 hours before - Departed: KEAT, Wenatchee, WA - Destination: KBFI, Seattle, WA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: N/A - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 81; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review September 21, 2020; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 16,550 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 15,900 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 119 total, 119 in this make and model, 62 as pilot in command, 9.1 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: KEAT, 11 nm away - METAR: KEAT 292355Z AUTO 11007KT 10SM CLR 29/08 A2979 RMK AO2 SLP080 T02940083 10294 20211 56022 ## 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 20210829017899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210829017899A), Aug 29, 2021: Cessna 172P, Mission Ridge, WA, Destroyed. Pilot #2 was receiving mountain training from instructor pilot (pilot #1). While flying, using visual landmarks, both pilots became confused seeing similar… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103781. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12661913&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA332%20Pilot%20Accident%20Report%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of phone conversation (CFI) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12674136&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation%20(CFI)-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 215 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12662570&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.