Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Republic, Washington 99166
Friday, May 30, 2003 9:58 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot, with one passenger/observer aboard, was conducting an aerial search for a missing person in mountainous terrain. Witnesses to the accident reported that the airplane was observed on a westerly heading (in the direction of the summit) just above the treetops. A witness stated the airplane was in a level flight attitude when it suddenly banked sharply to the left and entered a steep descent, ultimately impacting terrain in a nose low attitude. The wreckage came to rest approximately 50 feet south (down hill) from a series of high-tension power lines. A series of parallel scratch marks were observed on both wings of the airplane, however, no damage was noted to the power lines or associated support structures. Post accident examination of the engine, airframe and associated components revealed no evidence of a pre impact mechanical failure or anomaly.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in a stall and subsequent loss of control during low altitude maneuvering.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/30/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 958
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Republic
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99166
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 483653N
Event Location Longitude 1182753W
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID 1050
Elevation of weather observation facility 1878
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 15239
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC
NTSB Notification Date May 30 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2004 8:14AM
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 N7301A
NTSB Number SEA03FA089
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 172
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 29401
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Jul 17 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 54
Airframe Hours 2809
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Rudy E. Ohlund
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Republic
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99166
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code R49
Departure City REPUBLIC
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 22 2004 4:14PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --