# Accident 19980505024429A: Cessna 172N, Enumclaw, WA, May 5, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 5, 1998, 13:00 local time
- Place: Enumclaw, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.1001° N, 121.6001° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1001&lon=-121.6001&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6468D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6468D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320H2AD
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 180 total, 121 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA070) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980505024429A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

SCUD RUNNING INOT LOWERING CEILING ENTERED CLOUD. DOVE OUT TOO LOW. IMPACTED MOUNTAINSIDE. (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE EN ROUTE THROUGH A MOUNTAIN PASS, THE CEILING WAS HIGHER THAN WHAT WAS REPORTED.  THE PILOT CONTINUED THE FLIGHT THROUGH THE PASS, HOWEVER, THE CEILING BEGAN TO LOWER AND HE OPTED TO REVERSE DIRECTION. THE PILOT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN TO THE LEFT, AND AT THE COMPLETION OF THE TURN, NOTED THAT THE CLOUDS HAD CLOSED IN BEHIND HIM.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE STARTED ANOTHER 180 DEGREE TURN TO THE RIGHT, AND DURING THIS TURN, ENTERED THE CLOUDS.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ABOUT 150 DEGREES INTO THE SECOND TURN WHEN HE POPPED OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND WAS WITHIN SECONDS OF IMPACTING A STEEP MOUNTAIN SIDE.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT ROOM TO AVOID A COLLISION, AND LEVELED THE WINGS, PULLED THE THROTTLE OFF TO STALL THE AIRPLANE AS IF LANDING, AND AIM THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE BETWEEN TWO TREES FOR THE COLLISION.  THE PILOT STATED THAT BOTH WINGS WERE BENT AFT FROM THE IMPACT WITH THE TREES, HOWEVER, THE COLLISION WITH THE GROUND WAS MINOR.  AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WEATHER REPORTING                                                            FACILITY REPORTED A 300 FOOT OVERCAST CEILING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.                                                        (-23)THE PILOT IN AN ATTEMPT TO EXECUTE A 180 TURN TO AVOID LOWER CLOUD FLEW INTO A CLOUD AND UPON EXITING WAS TO CLOSE TO THE MOUNTAIN SIDE TO AVIOD IMPACT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA98LA070](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA070), May 5, 1998: Cessna 172N (N6468D), Enumclaw, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC conditions and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain. Clouds and mountainous terrain were a factor.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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