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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 30, 1989 · Cessna 152 · N49231

Snohomish, WA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 30, 1989
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Location
Snohomish, WA
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N49231
Operator
Snohomish Flying Service
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA89FA160

The C-172, N49231, had just departed RWY 32 at Harvey Field, an uncontrolled airport, on an instrument training flight. Radar data shows that the C-172 was climbing out at 700-800 fpm at 65 kts and on a true heading of 310 deg. The BE-J35, N66QB, had departed earlier from Payne Field at Everett. Radar data shows that the BE-J35 was in level flight at 130 kts and on a true track of 280 deg. The collision occurred at 1,600 ft MSL in uncontrolled airspace. The cabin top and left wing of the high-wing C-172 displayed linear scratches, gouges and paint smears which matched the impact damage, scratches and gouges found on the bottom surface of the left wing of the low-wing BE-J35. Official sunset was 1 minute after the accident; the sun would have been 0.01 deg above the horizon at the collision altitude, and at a true bearing of 284.6 deg from the accident site. Witnesses reported dusk dark light conditions on the ground.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N66QB, A BEECH J35, TO SEE AND AVOID THIS AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE FLIGHT PATH OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT DIRECTLY INTO THE SETTING SUN, AND THE LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS OF DUSK ON THE GROUND BELOW.

Full Narrative

THE C-172, N49231, HAD JUST DEPARTED RWY 32 AT HARVEY FIELD, AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT, ON AN INSTRUMENT TRAINING FLIGHT. RADAR DATA SHOWS THAT THE C-172 WAS CLIMBING OUT AT 700-800 FPM AT 65 KTS AND ON A TRUE HEADING OF 310 DEG. THE BE-J35, N66QB, HAD DEPARTED EARLIER FROM PAYNE FIELD AT EVERETT. RADAR DATA SHOWS THAT THE BE-J35 WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT AT 130 KTS AND ON A TRUE TRACK OF 280 DEG. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AT 1,600 FT MSL IN UNCONTROLLED AIRSPACE. THE CABIN TOP AND LEFT WING OF THE HIGH-WING C-172 DISPLAYED LINEAR SCRATCHES, GOUGES AND PAINT SMEARS WHICH MATCHED THE IMPACT DAMAGE, SCRATCHES AND GOUGES FOUND ON THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE LEFT WING OF THE LOW-WING BE-J35. OFFICIAL SUNSET WAS 1 MINUTE AFTER THE ACCIDENT; THE SUN WOULD HAVE BEEN 0.01 DEG ABOVE THE HORIZON AT THE COLLISION ALTITUDE, AND AT A TRUE BEARING OF 284.6 DEG FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE. WITNESSES REPORTED DUSK DARK LIGHT CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:55 PDT
Nearest AirportHarvey Field (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN49231
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSnohomish Flying Service
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C-M · Reciprocating · 110 | Continental · IO-470-N · Reciprocating · 260
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 27 · First Class
Crew 2Age 57 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind330° @ 6 kt
Visibility45 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 55
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time02:45
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data