Cessna 172N N733SW

Summary

On 3 October 2001 at about 20:38 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N733SW, operated by West Isle Air, Inc., was involved in an accident near Decatur Island, Washington, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 October 2001 at 20:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Decatur Island, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Decatur Shores Airport (WN07)

Coordinates

48.5000, -122.8081

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N733SW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

West Isle Air, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Decatur Island → Anacortes

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA02FA002

3 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a low altitude turn, resulting in a stall. The pilot exceeding the aircraft's maximum gross takeoff weight was a factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses to the accident reported that shortly after departing from the northbound turf runway the pilot initiated a 360-degree turn to the right (east). Shortly before completing the turn, the aircraft banked sharply to the left, pitched down, and collided with trees in a nose-low attitude. Post-accident examination of the airplane, engine and associated components revealed no evidence of a preaccident failure or malfunction. The airplane's estimated gross weight at takeoff was 2,361pounds. The airplane's published maximum gross takeoff weight is 2,300 pounds.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.