On May 30, 1988, a Cessna 172M (registration N20580) was involved in an aviation accident near Lester State, WA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot inadvertently flew into a narrow valley with trees and steep terrain while climbing to cruise. Unable to outclimb the terrain, the pilot slowed to 40 mph and attempted a shallow climbing turn, but struck trees, descended, and came to rest nose-low above ground.
Incident Description
During the climb to cruise altitude, the pilot inadvertently entered a narrow valley. The valley had trees on both sides and steep terrain that rose sharply. The aircraft was unable to outclimb the rising terrain. In response, the pilot reduced airspeed to 40 miles per hour and initiated a shallow climbing turn to avoid large boulders present on the terrain. However, during the turn, the aircraft struck trees. The collision caused the aircraft to descend toward the ground.
Final Position
The aircraft continued descending and impacted additional trees. It came to rest in a nose-low attitude, suspended several feet above the ground after striking the trees.
What happened in the 30 May 1988 Cessna 172M accident near Lester State, WA?
A pilot inadvertently flew into a narrow valley with trees and steep terrain while climbing to cruise. Unable to outclimb the terrain, the pilot slowed to 40 mph and attempted a shallow climbing turn, but struck trees, descended, and came to rest nose-low above ground.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 30 May 1988 involved a Cessna 172M, registration N20580, at Lester State, WA.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…