Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Olympia, Washington 98512
Friday, October 29, 2004 23:54 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a night cross country flight in known adverse weather conditions, the private pilot, with the assistance of air traffic control, was trying to divert into a nearby airport. The pilot reported rough turbulence and heavy rain to the controller. Radar tracking indicated that the flight was in an area of mountainous terrain when the aircraft descended below radar coverage. The wreckage was located on the side of a ridge line. Evidence indicated that the aircraft collided with a dead tree snag before colliding with rising terrain in a level attitude. Witnesses located north of the accident site reported hearing an aircraft fly overhead their residence. These witnesses reported heavy rain and high wind at the time. Post accident inspection of the wreckage and engine did not find evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering in known adverse weather conditions. Clouds, rain, high wind, dark night, trees, mountainous terrain and the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/29/2004
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2354
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Olympia
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98512
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 470007N
Event Location Longitude 1230359W
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2354 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 85
Weather Observation Facility ID OLM
Elevation of weather observation facility 206
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
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) 18052
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Oct 30 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2005 10:33AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Seattle, Washington

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N53161
NTSB Number SEA05FA013
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17274694
Certified Max Gross Weight 2407
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 Sep 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 68
Airframe Hours 10250
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Paul Etchemendy
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Tigard
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97223
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Eagle Flight Center
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3355 NE Cornell Rd
Operator City Hillsboro
Operator State OR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 97124
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 PAE
Departure City Everett
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2245
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TTD
Destination City Troutdale
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 3 2005 8:01PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --