Accident Overview
On September 26, 2025, about 1306 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172F, registration N8219U, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Battle Ground, Washington. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. It had departed from Southwest Regional Airport in Kelso, Washington, and initially flew southeast along the Columbia River to Goheen Airport (W52) in Battle Ground, Washington, which has a field elevation of 292 ft mean sea level.
Flight Path and Witness Observations
According to preliminary ADS-B data, the airplane approached W52 from the northeast at 1,800 ft msl on an approximate 45° angle to the runway. At 1300:30, about 700 ft east of the approach end of runway 15, the airplane initiated a left turn to a southerly heading, parallel to the runway, at about 800 ft msl. It remained parallel until a left turn to the crosswind leg at 1300:55. The airplane continued turning to the downwind leg, climbing to 1,400 ft msl, then began a descending left turn to the base leg at about 1302:05, continuing onto final for runway 15. ADS-B contact was lost at 1303:27, with the airplane at about 300 ft msl and 642 ft north of the approach end of runway 15.
Video surveillance footage showed the airplane crossing the runway threshold about 10 ft above ground level, performing a touch and go on the last third of the runway at 1303:43. After touchdown, it began a shallow climb. ADS-B contact was reestablished at 1304:09, about 2,000 ft southeast of the departure end of runway 15, at about 200 ft msl. The airplane remained at 200 ft during the turn from crosswind to downwind. At 1304:44, it was at 600 ft msl abeam the approach end of runway 15 on downwind, then climbed to 900 ft msl, initiating a left turn to base leg, continuing west past the extended runway centerline at 1305:36 while maintaining 900 ft msl. At 1304:42, it began a descending left turn to a heading about 15° left of runway heading. The last ADS-B data point was at 1306:12, at about 300 ft msl, about 122 ft northwest of the approach end of runway 15.
A witness located midfield on the east side of the runway reported the airplane sounded normal, as if at full power. She observed the touch and go landing, then saw the airplane depart while remaining in the traffic pattern. She heard the airplane on downwind and noted it was coming in fast on final. Instead of landing, the airplane banked right and impacted trees.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the accident site revealed the initial point of impact (IPOI) identified by witness marks on a large tree about 75 ft above the base. Below the IPOI, a 4 ft section of the outboard right wing, aileron, and wing tip came to rest on the ground near the base. The outboard right wing showed a concave depression consistent with the shape and diameter of the IPOI. Aileron control cables were entangled with tree branches. The propeller separated from the crankshaft and came to rest about 22 ft southwest of the IPOI; propeller blades exhibited S-bending, leading edge polishing, and embedded wood fibers.
The main wreckage came to rest inverted about 138 ft south of the IPOI, consisting of the inboard right wing and flap, the entire left wing, empennage, cabin, and engine. The cabin and cockpit section sustained thermal damage that consumed both inboard wings and extended from the engine compartment to the baggage compartment where the auxiliary fuel cell was located. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to all primary flight control surfaces. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.