# Accident 19990916047369A: Piper PA28180, Eatonville, WA, September 16, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 16, 1999, 18:40 local time
- Place: Eatonville, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.8604° N, 122.2490° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8604&lon=-122.2490&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7832N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7832N-2000-06-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28180
- Reported engine: LYC O360A3A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,470 total, 283 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA99LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA165) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990916047369A

## Narrative

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

(.4) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE EN ROUTE DURING THE VFR FLIGHT, HE GOT OFF COURSE AND ENCOUNTERED RISING TERRAIN THAT WAS COVERED BY CLOUDS. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A COURSE REVERSAL, HOWEVER, ABOUT HALF-WAY THROUGH THE TURN THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES ON UP-SLOPING TERRAIN.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.                                        (-23) AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE FROM THE RENTON AIRPORT TO THE PORTLAND AREA ON A VFR FLIGHT WHEN THE PILOT "GOT OFF COURSE", AND ENDED UP FURTHER EAST THAN THE PLANNED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. WITH WEATHER CONDITIONS DETERIORATING, THE PIC ATTEMPTED A COURSE CORRECTION, AND IN THE PROCESS, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS IN VMC CONDITIONS AT THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE TREES.

## 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 SEA99LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA165), Sep 17, 1999: Piper PA-28-180 (N7832N), Eatonville, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Inadequate inflight planning/preparation and terrain clearance not maintained. Mountainous terrain, cloudy conditions and delayed remedial action are factors

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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