Cessna 172N N172LS

Summary

On 1 October 1993 at about 01:00 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N172LS, operated by U.s. Navy, was involved in an accident near Ellensburg, Washington, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 October 1993 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ellensburg, Washington, United States

Coordinates

46.9693, -120.4705

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N172LS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

U.s. Navy

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Oak Harbor

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA93FA214

3 people died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED ABOVE STALLING SPEED (VS), AND HIS INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION, AND AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SCOUT HUNTING AREAS AT A LOCATION WHERE THE PILOT PLANNED TO HUNT ELK DURING THE UPCOMING WEEK, THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING MANEUVERED AT LOW-LEVEL IN-AND-AROUND A CANYON ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF AN ELK PRESERVE. WHILE THE PILOT AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS WERE MAKING OBSERVATIONS OF THE TERRAIN THEY HOPED TO HUNT, THE PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED FROM THE TASK OF FLYING THE AIRCRAFT. HE ALLOWED HIS AIRSPEED TO DETERIORATE TO A POINT WHERE THE AIRCRAFT STALLED, AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT SPUN INTO THE TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.