Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Enumclaw, Washington 98022
Thursday, April 6, 1989 18:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A PERSONAL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. A WEATHER BRIEFING OBTAINED EARLIER THAT DAY BY THE PILOT INCLUDED IN-FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. STRONG UP AND DOWNDRAFTS IN THE MOUNTAINS ALONG WITH POSSIBLE RIME AND MIXED ICING CONDITIONS WERE MENTIONED. STRONG WINDS WERE PRESENT IN THE AFTERNOON AT THE ALTITUDES THE PILOT HAD REPORTED TO BE USING. THE PILOT DID NOT OBTAIN AN UPDATED BRIEFING FOR THE AFTERNOON CONDITIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

ATTEMPTED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS INCLUDE CLOUDS, DOWNDRAFTS, HIGH WINDS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/6/1989
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City ENUMCLAW
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98022
Event Date Year 1989
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
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 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 1939
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38292
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:37PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9473L
NTSB Number SEA89FA186
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AMERICAN
Aircraft Model AA-1A
Aircraft Series Identifier AA-1A
Aircraft Serial Number AA1A0273
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 5 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 1265
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ERVIN J. BARTH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 16441 8TH AVE. SOUTH
Aircraft Owner City SEATTLE
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98148
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THE AVIATORS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8490 PERIMETER RD SO.
Operator City SEATTLE
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 98108
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 MWH
Departure City MOSES LAKE
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BFI
Destination City SEATTLE
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Unknown
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --