Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Concrete, Washington 98237
Tuesady, September 15, 1998 21:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A flight instructor, who checked the airplane out to the pilot for the night flight, reported that the pilot stated that he was going to stay in the local area (Canada) for a sight-seeing flight with a friend. When the aircraft did not return at the proposed time, a search was initiated. The aircraft was found the next morning, 17 miles south of the Canadian/U.S. border in a deep, narrow canyon located in the mountains of a wilderness area. The wreckage was found partially submerged in a river. The wreckage was positioned in a nearly vertical nose down attitude. Rearward crushing was noted to the entire length of the leading edges of both wings. During the post-accident investigation, no evidence was found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control for undetermined reasons. Night conditions were a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/15/1998
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2130
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CONCRETE
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98237
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 9
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 2130 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 260
Weather Observation Facility ID BLI
Elevation of weather observation facility 166
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1237
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 16 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number CFZEY
NTSB Number SEA98FA179
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier 172M
Aircraft Serial Number 17260904
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Foreign 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 Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Aug 25 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 43
Airframe Hours 3292
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DEAN R. CRAMB
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1338 CHEAL PL
Aircraft Owner City COBBL HILL
Aircraft Owner State CD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ASPEN AIR LTD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5333 - 216TH STREET
Operator City LANGLEY
Operator State CD
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 YNJ
Departure City LANGLEY
Departure State CD
Departure Country
Departure Time 2030
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
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 --