# NTSB WPR25LA216: Cessna 172, N6964A, Concrete, WA, July 20, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 20, 2025, 09:36 local (16:36 UTC)
- Place: Concrete, WA
- Coordinates: 48.520374, -121.87735 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5204&lon=-121.8774&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200586
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA216
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200586/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200586
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA216

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines, which resulted in a wire strike.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was flying over the river to examine a long gravel bar that he intended to land on. While looking for powerlines for the approach he had lost some altitude and was attempting to recover when a power line flew overhead and collided with the vertical stabilizer. The pilot attempted to regain control of the airplane, which then impacted terrain next to the riverbank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6964A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6964A), registered now, S/N 29064 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (A)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 29064
- Year built: 1956
- Airframe hours: 4603.8
- Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Daniel P Gore
- Registered owner: Jackalope Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 2025, 30 hours before
- Departed: BLI, Bellingham, WA
- Destination: 1S2, Darrington, WA
- Airport: N/A
- Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 4, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 614.4 total, 524.8 in this make and model, 544.4 as pilot in command, 32.9 in the last 90 days, 4.4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft broken
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KBVS, 22 nm away
- METAR: METAR KBVS 201655Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN017 15/11 A3004 RMK A01=

## 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 20250720019879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250720019879A), Jul 20, 2025: Cessna 172, Concrete, WA, Substantial damage. 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…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200586. 1.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19184694&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array-accident site (courtesy of the pilot) (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19184879&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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