Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Diamond Lake, Oregon 97731
Friday, September 29, 1989 10:27 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT ELT WAS RECEIVED BUT AERIAL SEARCH IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE OF LOW CIG, VSBY IN AREA. WITNESSES REPORTED LOW CIG, RAIN AND FOG IN THE AREA ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED 3 DAYS LATER, AFTER PASSAGE OF FRONTAL WX SYSTEM, AT 5200 FT MSL IN A REMOTE PASS THAT IS A FREQUENTLY USED VFR ROUTE THROUGH THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND WHO CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLY THROUGH A MOUNTAIN PASS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE LOW CEILING AND RAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE MOUNTAINOUS, HILLY TERRAIN IN THE PASS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/29/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1027
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City DIAMOND LAKE
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97731
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 9
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1052 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 237
Weather Observation Facility ID RBG
Elevation of weather observation facility 525
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 48
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3500
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 5580
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
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) 2019
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 1 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41215
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3581Y
NTSB Number SEA89FA183
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 182F
Aircraft Series Identifier 182F
Aircraft Serial Number 18254481
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 28 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 2428
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RONALD P. HOUSE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 372 SCHOOL HOUSE LANE
Aircraft Owner City SHADY COVE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97539
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 64S
Departure City PROSPECT
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 2S6
Destination City NEWBERG
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --