Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wenatchee, Washington 98801
Friday, January 18, 1985 17:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ONTO A SNOW COVERED GRAIN FIELD. HE STATED HIS ARTIFICAL HORIZON WAS INOPERATIVE & DARKNESS WAS APPROACHING. ALSO, HE SAID HE SAW A NEEDLE FLICKER & HE WAS NOT SURE IF IT WAS A FUEL GAGE OR HIS OIL PRESSURE GAGE. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT NOSED OVER IN 10 INCHES OF SNOW.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/18/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City WENATCHEE
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98801
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 1
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 Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1700
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 Dusk
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
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) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1521
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 24 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28896
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6176M
NTSB Number SEA85LA047
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MAULE
Aircraft Model M-5-235C
Aircraft Series Identifier M-5-235C
Aircraft Serial Number 7113C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 805
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES FORS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 5103
Aircraft Owner City MISSOULA
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JAMES A FORS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P O BOX 5103
Operator City MISSOULA
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 59807
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 THM
Departure City THOMPSON FALLS
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 3WA1
Destination City ISSAQUAH
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 --