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NTSB Report
August 16, 1988 · Cessna 210E · N3ME
N Bonneville, WA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 16, 1988
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
N Bonneville, WA
Aircraft
Cessna 210E
Tail Number
N3ME
Operator
Everett L Merritt
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA88FA154
WHILE ON A FLT FROM OROVILLE TO ORCHARDS, WA, THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 25 TO 30 MI EAST OF THE DESTN WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED. IMPACT OCCURRED APRX 100 FT BELOW THE TOP OF A RIDGELINE AT AN ELEV OF ABOUT 1755 FT. A WITNESS, WHO HEARD THE CRASH, RPRTD THE AREA WAS COVERED WITH HEAVY FOG. HE HEARD THE ACFT COMING FROM THE EAST, THEN SAW IT FLYING JUST ABOVE THE TREES AT AN ALT OF APRX 60 FT AGL. IT DISAPPEARED IN FOG TO THE WEST & CRASHED ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER WHILE ON A SOUTHERLY HDG. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OF THE ACFT WERE EVIDENT.
Full Narrative
WHILE ON A FLT FROM OROVILLE TO ORCHARDS, WA, THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 25 TO 30 MI EAST OF THE DESTN WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED. IMPACT OCCURRED APRX 100 FT BELOW THE TOP OF A RIDGELINE AT AN ELEV OF ABOUT 1755 FT. A WITNESS, WHO HEARD THE CRASH, RPRTD THE AREA WAS COVERED WITH HEAVY FOG. HE HEARD THE ACFT COMING FROM THE EAST, THEN SAW IT FLYING JUST ABOVE THE TREES AT AN ALT OF APRX 60 FT AGL. IT DISAPPEARED IN FOG TO THE WEST & CRASHED ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER WHILE ON A SOUTHERLY HDG. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OF THE ACFT WERE EVIDENT.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:20 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 210E
Tail NumberN3ME
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorEverett L Merritt
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-A · Reciprocating · 285
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 70 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 57
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time18:47
Weather SourceWIT