Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stanley, Idaho 83278
Tuesady, June 20, 1989 13:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING ABOUT 800 FT AGL ALONG A RIVER IN A MOUNTAIN VALLEY WITH STEEP HIGH TERRAIN ON BOTH SIDES. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT FLEW INTO SNOW SQUALL, IMPACTED TREES 6000 FT MSL ON HILLSIDE 1/4 MILE FROM THE RIVER. PLT BRIEFED ON MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS, ADVISED TO UPDATE WEATHER LATER IN FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PILOT CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE SNOW SQUALLS AND OBSCURED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN THE AREA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/20/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1315
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City STANLEY
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83278
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
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 1349 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 215
Weather Observation Facility ID U15
Elevation of weather observation facility 5071
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 25
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 32
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 6400
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 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1689
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 20 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40592
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:47PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6471Y
NTSB Number SEA89FA113
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-23-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-250
Aircraft Serial Number 27-3766
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 22 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4461
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GREGORY R. ROST
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 154
Aircraft Owner City GALENA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99741
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
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 EAT
Departure City WENATCHEE
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1039
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code U15
Destination City CHALLIS
Destination State ID
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --