SEA03LA049

Factual narrative

On March 24, 2003, at 1130 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172G, N4150L, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with the terrain shortly after takeoff from the Packwood Airstrip, Packwood, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the non certificated pilot was not injured. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-In-Charge, the pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from runway 19, he did not feel that the aircraft was "climbing like normal" and chose to initiate an off airport precautionary landing beyond the departure end of the runway. During the landing roll in a gravel pit area, the airplane traveled through a large puddle of water. The nose landing gear sheared off and the airplane subsequently nosed over. Damage to the aircraft included wingtip damage to both wings that extended inboard two to three feet. The top of the vertical stabilizer was bent over to the left side extending down to about three feet. The right side wing lift strut was bent and broken about mid range, and wrinkles in the skin on the bottom side of both wings near the wing roots were noted. Witnesses in the area reported to Lewis County Sheriff's Office personnel that the engine sounded like it was "cutting out," shortly before the aircraft was observed to descend to the gravel pit. Shortly after the accident, the pilot was sent the National Transportation Safety Board, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form 6120.1/2. The pilot did not return the form nor provide requested maintenance record information, and another one was sent on May 19, 2003. To this date, the pilot has not returned the form or requested information to the NTSB. A search of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airmen records indicated that the pilot does not hold a pilot certificate. The FAA medical records indicated that on December 29, 1987, the pilot held a third class medical certificate. The non certificated pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, he did not feel that the aircraft was "climbing like normal" and chose to initiate a precautionary off airport landing beyond the departure end of the runway. During the landing roll in a gravel pit area, the airplane traveled through a large puddle of water. The nose landing gear sheared off and the airplane subsequently nosed over. Witnesses stated that the engine sounded like it was "cutting out." The pilot did not provide requested maintenance information and the reason for the possible partial loss of power was not determined. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12