Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Miltonfreewater, Oregon 97862
Saturday, October 5, 1991 17:20 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED FLYING JUST ABOVE THE TREE LINE IN A VALLEY APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET BELOW THE RIDGE LINE. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL THROUGH THIS VALLEY WHICH LED INTO A BOX CANYON. THE AIRPLANE THEN MADE AN APPROXIMATE 45 DEGREE BANKING RIGHT TURN, AND ALMOST COMPLETED THE 180 DEGREE TURN WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE TERRAIN. THE WINESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING NORMALLY THE ENTIRE TIME AND THAT THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE UNDER CONTROL UNTIL THE TURNING MANEUVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, CLEARANCE NOT MAINTAINED, LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/5/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1720
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City MILTONFREEWATER
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97862
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 10
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 Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
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) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 881
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45191
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1372F
NTSB Number SEA92FA002
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 172G
Aircraft Series Identifier 172G
Aircraft Serial Number 17254867
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 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHARLES W. WOLFKIEL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2247 W. SHORE DR.
Aircraft Owner City MOSES LAKE
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98837
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHARLES W. WOLFKIEL
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2247 W. SHORE DR.
Operator City MOSES LAKE
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 98837
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 ALW
Departure City WALLA WALLA
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
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 10:35AM
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 --