Cessna 172G N4478L

Summary

On 25 July 1996 at about 03:00 local time, a Cessna 172G registered N4478L was involved in an accident near Kettle Falls, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 July 1996 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Kettle Falls, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Rickey Point (Private)

Coordinates

48.7193, -117.9601

Aircraft

Cessna 172G

Registration

N4478L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Bissell

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA96LA166

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's inadequate preflight planning. Factors relating to the accident were: high ambient temperatures; departing from a short, grass runway; and tall trees off the departure end of the airstrip.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot initiated a takeoff from a 1,850 foot grass airstrip, with an ambient temperature of about 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The aircraft barely cleared the trees at the end of the runway, then it settled into trees about one-quarter mile from the end of the airstrip. Later calculations determined the density altitude to be approximately 3,000 feet. The pilot reported that there had not been any problem with the aircraft's engine. Later, the pilot stated that he should have either waited to take off when the temperatures were lower, or he should have reduced the fuel load.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.