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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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September 2, 1989 · Cessna TU206C · N21NW

Skykomish, WA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 2, 1989
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Skykomish, WA
Aircraft
Cessna TU206C
Tail Number
N21NW
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA89FA156

DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WHILE MANEUVERING IN A VALLEY THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OBSERVED FLYING THROUGH THE PASS FOLLOWING THE ROAD AT APRX 50 AGL AND JUST UNDER A LAYER OF FOG. THE AIRPLANE DOVE DOWN INTO A VALLEY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PASS THAT WAS CLEAR FOR APRX 4 MILES THEN BECAME OBSCURED AGAIN SO THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE AIRPLANE HAD REVERSED COURSE AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN APRX 100 FEET BELOW THE AREA WHERE ENTRY WAS FIRST MADE. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT ALL AREAS AROUND AND ABOVE THE VALLEY WAS OBSCURED BY FOG.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT INTO IMC. THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY PLAN AND PREPARE FOR THE FLIGHT AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE ABOVE THE TERRAIN FOR VMC. FOG WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Full Narrative

DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WHILE MANEUVERING IN A VALLEY THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OBSERVED FLYING THROUGH THE PASS FOLLOWING THE ROAD AT APRX 50 AGL AND JUST UNDER A LAYER OF FOG. THE AIRPLANE DOVE DOWN INTO A VALLEY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PASS THAT WAS CLEAR FOR APRX 4 MILES THEN BECAME OBSCURED AGAIN SO THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE AIRPLANE HAD REVERSED COURSE AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN APRX 100 FEET BELOW THE AREA WHERE ENTRY WAS FIRST MADE. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT ALL AREAS AROUND AND ABOVE THE VALLEY WAS OBSCURED BY FOG.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:00 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna TU206C
Tail NumberN21NW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-C · Reciprocating · 280
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 26 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility1 sm
CeilingOvercast 100 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

External Links

Appendix: Source Data