# Accident 19980604012309A: Cessna 172N, Prindle, WA, June 4, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 4, 1998, 02:23 local time
- Place: Prindle, WA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.6993° N, 121.7191° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6993&lon=-121.7191&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6234D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6234D-2000-02-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320H2AD
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98FA088) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980604012309A

## Narrative

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

VFR PILOT ENROUTE IN MVFR. ENCOUNTERED IMC. LOST CONTROL CRASHED. INDICATES SPATIAL DISORIENTATION SPRIAL DIVE. (.4)THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT TOOK OFF AT 0211 UNDER DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS AND ENCOUNTERED CEILINGS OF 1,400 FOOT BROKEN AND 2,200 FOOT OVERCAST. THE RADAR TRACK SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF 2,000 FEET AS IT ENTERED INTO A LEFT, DESCENDING SPIRAL. THE LAST RADAR TARGET WAS WITHIN 1/2 MILE OF THE CRASH SITE AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF WRECKAGE AND TREE STRIKES INDICATED A STEEP DESCENT ANGLE. TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SAMPLES FROM THE PILOT REVEALED, 0.020  (UG/ML, UG/G) AMPHETAMINE, 0.092 (UG/ML, UG/G) METHAMPHETAMINE, AND 0.005 (UG/ML, UG/G) TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (THE ACTIVE SUBSTANCE IN MARIJUANA) IN THE BLOOD.                                      (-23) N6234D, DEPARTED TROUTDALE AIRPORT (TTD) ON 06/04/98 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:00 AM LOCAL. AT 02:15 AM A WITNESS DESCRIBED HEARING AN AIRCRAFT CRASH. APPROXIMATELY 16:30 PM SKAMANIA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT. REPORTED FINDING N6234D N.W. OF PRINDLE, WA., JUST OFF THE CANNON CREEK AND BUSH LACK ROAD INTERSECTION. INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE AND AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS                                       FOUND NO APPARENT MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES.

## 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 SEA98FA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98FA088), Jun 4, 1998: Cessna 172N (N6234D), Prindle, WA, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during attempted flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors contributing to the accident were clouds, dark night…

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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