Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nordland, Washington 98358
Thursday, December 21, 1989 13:12 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO PHOTOGRAPH A SAILBOAT UNDERWAY IN PUGET SOUND. AFTER CIRCLING THE BOAT 3 TIMES AT A LOW ALTITUDE, THE PILOT HEADED SOUTHBOUND TOWARD THE DEST ARPT. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED ON RADAR CLIMBING TO 1500 AGL, REVERSE COURSE AND ENTER A 1000 FPM DIVE UNTIL LOST AT 500 FT AGL. THERE WAS NO RADIO COMM DURING THE DIVE FROM THE ACFT THAT WAS IN CONTACT WITH ATC. WITNESSES REPORTED ONLY SEEING A SPLASH AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE WRECKAGE OR OCCUPANTS COULD NOT BE LOCATED IN 500 FT DEEP WATER AND HAVE NOT BEEN RECOVERED. WEATHER WAS VFR.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

UNDETERMINED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/21/1989
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1312
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City NORDLAND
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98358
Event Date Year 1989
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1257 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 342
Weather Observation Facility ID NUW
Elevation of weather observation facility 47
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 1
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2021
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 21 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41254
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:16PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2228E
NTSB Number SEA90FA027
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 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17271192
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 8 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 47
Airframe Hours 3652
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WHITNEY A. SHOOK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6813 YEAZELL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City LONGBRANCH
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98351
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 TIW
Departure City TACOMA
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code TIW
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --