Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Harper, Oregon 97906
Friday, December 10, 1999 17:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot fatally injured when the airplane collided with terrain in an isolated area of the state. It was believed to have departed a ranch, about twelve miles southwest, in what was described as 'heavy snow conditions.' No flight plan was filed for the flight, and there was no report of the pilot receiving a weather briefing in preparation for the flight. The nearest aviation weather reporting point was about 70 miles from the crash site. An airmet for mountain obcuration in the area was in effect at the time of the accident. Toxicological testing was performed by the FAA Toxicological laboratory. Blood, brain, and urine toxicological samples were positive for amphetamine, and methamphetamine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain terrain clearance. Factors include meteorological conditions obscuring the pilot's visibility and incapacitation due to illegal substances.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/10/1999
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City HARPER
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97906
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 12
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 1650 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID KBK
Elevation of weather observation facility 3369
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 70
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
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) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1902
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 12 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 11 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5347C
NTSB Number SEA00FA030
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 140A
Aircraft Series Identifier 140A
Aircraft Serial Number 15510
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 30 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 139
Airframe Hours 3495
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SALLY VILLANUEVA
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 3006
Aircraft Owner City PRINCETON
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97721
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TOMMY W. BALLARD
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 622 E KEARNEY STREET
Operator City CALDWELL
Operator State ID
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 83605
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
Departure City CROWLEY RANCH
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EUL
Destination City CALDWELL
Destination State ID
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 11 2001 4:05AM
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 --