Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Prindle, Washington 98648
Thursday, June 4, 1998 2:23 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non-instrument rated pilot took off at 0211 under dark night conditions and encountered ceilings of 1,400 foot broken and 2,200 foot overcast. The radar track showed the aircraft reaching an altitude of 2,000 feet as it entered into a left, descending spiral. The last radar target was within 1/2 mile of the crash site and the distribution of wreckage and tree strikes indicated a steep descent angle. Toxicological test revealed the pilot had blood levels of 0.020 (ug/ml, ug/g) amphetamine, 0.092 (ug/ml, ug/g) methamphetamine, and 0.005 (ug/ml, ug/g) tetrahydrocannabinol (the active substance in marijuana).

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during attempted flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors contributing to the accident were clouds, dark night conditions, spatial disorientation, and drug impairment.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/4/1998
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 223
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City PRINDLE
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98648
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 156 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID PDX
Elevation of weather observation facility 30
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1232
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 4 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1712
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2001 8:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6234D
NTSB Number SEA98FA088
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17272652
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name REDMAN, PRESTON, A.
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR2, BOX 2553
Aircraft Owner City HERMISTON
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97838
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TTD
Departure City TROUTDALE
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 212
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code S22
Destination City HERMISTON
Destination State OR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2001 8:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --