Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cook, Washington 98651
Sunday, June 9, 2002 10:25 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

At the time of the accident, the aircraft was flying as part of a group of aircraft flying from Sandy to Hermiston. One member of this group reported that the group encountered high winds several miles prior to the crash site. This group member said that he contacted the accident pilot on the radio, and that the accident pilot stated he was all right although the group member observed him gradually losing altitude. The group member stated that he flew past the accident aircraft about 30 seconds prior to the crash, then looked back and saw the accident aircraft on the ground. A witness in a motor vehicle, eastbound on Washington State Route 14 and traveling about 45 MPH at the time, reported to local law enforcement that the accident aircraft overtook her from the left (north) side of the vehicle, and then flew into the embankment "at about a 45 degree angle." This witness reported that the aircraft's ballistic recovery parachute deployed at impact. Winds at Columbia Gorge Regional/The Dalles Municipal Airport, The Dalles, Oregon, were reported as being from 310 degrees true at 22 knots, gusting to 30 knots, at 1053. A peak wind from 310 degrees true at 33 knots was reported at The Dalles at 1038. According to data found in a commercial reference source, the Quicksilver MX II cruises at 51 MPH (44 knots). An inspector from the FAA Flight Standards District Office, Hillsboro, Oregon, examined the wreckage and reported that the engine and undamaged control surfaces appeared to be operational. He stated that there was no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure to maintain aircraft control. High winds were a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/9/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1025
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Cook
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98651
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 454244N
Event Location Longitude 1224026W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID DLS
Elevation of weather observation facility 247
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 11000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 289
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 22
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 30
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 13119
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jun 9 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1120
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 1 2003 7:34AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland (Hillsboro), OR

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number NONE
NTSB Number SEA02LA098
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Unknown
Aircraft Model Quicksilver MX II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number Unknown
Certified Max Gross Weight 720
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Dean R. Bartell
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Salem
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97301
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 --
Departure City Sandy
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Hermiston
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Unknown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 6 2003 11:45AM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --