What happened
On September 26, 2025, at approximately 1306 PDT, a Cessna 172F, registration N8219U, was destroyed following an accident near Battle Ground, Washington. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot sustained 1 fatal injury.
According to ADS-B data, the aircraft departed from Southwest Regional Airport in Kelso, Washington, and flew southeast toward Goheen Airport (W5 and 292 ft MSL). The aircraft approached the airport from the northeast and entered the traffic pattern, performing a touch-and-go landing on runway 15 at 1303:43. Video surveillance showed the aircraft began a shallow climb after touchdown.
Following the touch-and-go, the aircraft transitioned through the crosswind and downwind legs of the pattern. A witness located midfield on the east side of the runway reported that the engine sounded normal and at full power. The witness noted that the aircraft appeared to be approaching on final at a high speed. During the final approach, the aircraft banked to the right and struck trees.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site identified the initial point of impact on a large tree approximately 75 feet above its base. A 4-foot section of the outboard right wing, including the aileron and wing tip, was found on the ground near the base of the tree. The right wing section showed a concave depression consistent with the impact with the tree, and aileron control cables were found entangled in branches.
The propeller had separated from the crankshaft and was located about 22 feet southwest of the initial impact point. The propeller blades showed S-bending, leading edge polishing, and embedded wood fibers. The main wreckage, which included the engine, cabin, empennage, and both wings, rested inverted approximately 138 feet south of the initial impact. The cabin and cockpit area sustained thermal damage that extended from the engine compartment to the baggage compartment.