SEA01LA076

Factual narrative

On April 21, 2000, at 1643 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N airplane, N8402E, sustained substantial damage after colliding with trees and terrain shortly after takeoff from a turf airstrip near Sultan, Washington. The airplane is owned by the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal/pleasure flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot and the one passenger aboard the airplane sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. In a telephone interview on April 23, 2001, the pilot reported that shortly after takeoff the airplane "settled" into the treetops. The airplane impacted trees and terrain approximately 1,000 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. A witness to the accident (a certified pilot) reported that shortly after departure, the airplane appeared to stall just before colliding with trees. Post-accident examination of the airplane by personal from the NTSB, Cessna Aircraft and Textron Lycoming revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure. Shortly after departure, during the initial climb out, the airplane collided with trees and terrain approximately 1,000 feet beyond the departure end of the turf runway. A witness to the accident (a certified pilot) reported that the airplane appeared to stall just before colliding with trees. The pilot stated that he noted a decreasing airspeed just before colliding with tree tops. Post-accident examination of the airplane by personal from the NTSB, Cessna Aircraft and Textron Lycoming revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12