TACOMA, WA, USA
N79931
CESSNA 172K
DURING A VFR FLIGHT, THE FLIGHTS INTENDED DESTINATION WAS REPORTING IFR CONDITINS. THE PILOT OPTED TO DIVERT TO ANOTHER AIRPORT THAT WAS REPORTING VFR. DURING THE DESCENT FOR LANDING ON FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. POST CRASH INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. THE COCKPIT INTRUMENT PANEL WAS DESTROYED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE. THE FACE OF THE ALTIMETER, HOWEVER, WAS RETRIEVED. THE BAROMETRIC PRESSURE WINDOW DISPLAYED A SETTING OF 30.10 IN HG. THE LAST SETTING AIR TRAFFIC GAVE TO THE PILOT JUST PRIOR TO ACCIDENT WAS 30.02 IN HG, A DIFFERENCE OF .08 IN OR 80 FEET WHICH WOULD HAVE INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS 80 FEET HIGHER THAN ITS ACTUAL ALTITUDE ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.
THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDE PATH FOR LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH A TREE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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