What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19)On December 25, 1998, about 1903 pacific standard time a Cessna 177 cardinal, N2355Y, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR part 91 pleasure flight, was substantially damaged after colliding with tree tops while on approach to the Bellingham airport (bli), Bellingham Washington. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot and his passenger were uninjured. There was no fire, and no report of an ELT actuating. The flight originated from the Bellingham airport approxiamtely 10 minutes prior to the accident. During a telephone interview, the pilot stated that shortly after take off, during the ascent, he encountered instrument meteorological conditions, and initiated a turn back to the airport. During the turn he collided with multiple tree tops. The pilot was able to continue to the airport and land without further incident. (-23) it appears the pilot flew into clouds and temporaily lost control of the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(.19)ON DECEMBER 25, 1998, ABOUT 1903 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME A CESSNA 177 CARDINAL, N2355Y, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT AS A 14 CFR PART 91 PLEASURE FLIGHT, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AFTER COLLIDING WITH TREE TOPS WHILE ON APPROACH TO THE BELLINGHAM AIRPORT (BLI), BELLINGHAM WASHINGTON. NIGHT VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED. THERE WAS NO FIRE, AND NO REPORT OF AN ELT ACTUATING. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE BELLINGHAM AIRPORT APPROXIAMTELY 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, THE PILOT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF, DURING THE ASCENT, HE ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND INITIATED A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. DURING THE TURN HE COLLIDED WITH MULTIPLE TREE TOPS. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO THE AIRPORT AND LAND WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. (-23) IT APPEARS THE PILOT FLEW INTO CLOUDS AND TEMPORAILY LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N2355Y · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.