# NTSB WPR26LA136: Cessna 162, N163TW, Chehalis, WA, March 22, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 21, 2026, 18:00 local (Mar 22, 2026, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Chehalis, WA - Coordinates: 46.677, -122.983 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6770&lon=-122.9830&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA SEA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202689 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202689/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202689 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA136 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a tail strike. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 162, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060005E), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The purpose of the flight was for the student pilot to complete her solo cross county requirement for a private pilot certificate. During landing, she maneuvered the airplane into a flare and it contacted the runway surface hard. The airplane bounced and became airborne again. The pilot elected to continue the landing attempt instead of performing a go-around and added power while maneuvering the airplane in a nose-low attitude. The propeller and nose landing gear impacted the runway surface and the airplane then pitched up, which resulted in a tail strike and substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N163TW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N163TW), registered now, S/N 16200230 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA AIRCRAFT CO 162 - Registry model: [Cessna 162](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-162) (registry code 060005E) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-d) (registry code 17409, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 16200230 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 3054 - Engines: Continental O-200-D 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Rainier Flight Service LLC - Registered owner: Rainier Flight Service LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 20, 2026, 48 hours before - Departed: RNT, Renton, WA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: CLS, Chehalis-Centralia, runway 34, 5,000 × 140 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 102.6 total, 101.3 in this make and model, 1.8 as pilot in command, 14.5 in the last 90 days, 6.7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KCLS - METAR: METAR KCLS 211235Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 05/04 A3019 RMK AO2 ## 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 20260321004699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260321004699A), Mar 21, 2026: Cessna Aircraft Co 162, Chehalis, WA, Substantial damage. Student pilot cross-country solo flight from krnt to kcls. Pilot flared aircraft too high during landing and bounced off the runway. Pilot added power and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202689. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20151981&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Signed%20WPR26LA136_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20151824&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20WPR26LA136-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.