Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary SEA90FA171

ONALASKA, WA, USA

Aircraft #1

N68DG

LAKE LA-4

Analysis

BEFORE DEPG ON A FLT FROM NEWPORT, OR, TO RENTON WA, THE PLT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING. HE WAS ADZD THAT THE WX WAS MARGINAL VFR & FORECAST TO BE VARIABLE IMC ALONG THE ROUTE. HE DID NOT DECLARE HIS INTENTIONS OR FILE A FLT PLAN, BUT TOOK OFF ABOUT 2 HRS LATER. WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE, A SEARCH WAS MADE. IT WAS NOT FOUND UNTIL 8/24/90. THE PLANE HAD CRASHED ON WOODED/MOUTAINOUS TERRAIN, NEAR THE HEAD OF A CANYON AT AN ELEV OF ABOUT 1800'. IMPACT OCCURRED ON A HEADING OF 165 DEG; ENTRANCE TO THE CANYON WAS SOUTH OF THE CRASH SITE. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND. APRX 16 MI SSW AT TOLEDO (ELEV 371'), THE 1345 PDT WX WAS IN PART: 1200' OVC, 8 MI VIS WITH LIGHT RAIN, WIND FROM 330 DEG AT 9 KTS.

Probable Cause and Findings

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

Get all the details on your iPhone or iPad with:

Aviation Accidents App

In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports