Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tensed, Idaho 83870
Thursday, July 4, 2002 9:58 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Radar data of the flight tracking indicated that the aircraft attained an altitude of about 6,000 feet before altitude reporting was lost about seven minutes after departure. The aircraft continued on a northerly track for about another five minutes when the tracking turned 180 degrees (left) and continued to the south for about two minutes. The tracking then turned to the west for about one minute, then turned to a southerly direction again when radar tracking was lost. The wreckage was distributed over an open fallow field of rolling terrain for a distance of 390 feet. Ground signatures and impact damage to the aircraft indicated a left wing low attitude at the time of terrain contact. The landing gear and flaps were retracted. Witnesses in the area reported hearing the aircraft overhead and stated that the engine(s) were making a "popping" sound and/or lost power. Post-crash inspection of the wreckage and engine teardown did not reveal evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. Interviews with personnel at the flights originating airport reported that they saw the aircraft fly for the first time in several months a couple of days prior to the accident. The pilot accomplished touch-and-go landings at that time. The day before the accident, the pilot had fuel added to the main fuel tanks only. The quantity of fuel in the auxiliary fuel tanks was not known. Maintenance records indicated that the aircraft had been flown approximately 2 hours in the preceding year.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Aircraft control was not maintained during an emergency landing. A loss of power for undetermined reasons was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/4/2002
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 958
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Tensed
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83870
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 471143N
Event Location Longitude 1165950W
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 953 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 178
Weather Observation Facility ID PUW
Elevation of weather observation facility 2555
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 42
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13631
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 4 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 1 2003 9:44AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Spokane, Washington

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N27069
NTSB Number SEA02FA119
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 335
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3350021
Certified Max Gross Weight 5990
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 3 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 1549
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Otto H. Hill
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Moscow
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83843
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PUW
Departure City Pullman
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SZT
Destination City Sandpoint
Destination State ID
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency descent/landing
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 2 2003 11:53AM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --