Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sumpter, Oregon 97877
Friday, April 26, 1991 17:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 150 DEPARTED LA GRANDE OREGON WITHOUT OBTAINING A WEATHER BRIEFING. WEATHER AT HIS DEPARTURE POINT WAS VFR. WEATHER AT HIS DESTINATION WAS OBSCURED WITH NO DISCERNABLE CEILING. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN NEAR THE BOTTOM OF A RIVER DRAINAGE. THE ENGINE FIRED ON RESIDUAL FUEL WHILE INVESTIGATORS WERE CHECKING COMPRESSION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISIONS AND THE PILOT'S VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/26/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SUMPTER
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97877
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 4
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1645 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID 5J0
Elevation of weather observation facility 3697
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
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) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1171
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44194
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N970MA
NTSB Number SEA91FA095
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 150H
Aircraft Series Identifier 150H
Aircraft Serial Number 15067550
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
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 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ELLIS E. SPEER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2706 N ASH
Aircraft Owner City LA GRANDE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97850
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ELLIS E. SPEER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2706 N ASH
Operator City LA GRANDE
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97850
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 LGD
Departure City LA GRANDE
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 5J0
Destination City JOHN DAY
Destination State OR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --