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20030409004019A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Cessna T207A · Merlin, OR · April 9, 2003

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
April 9, 2003 · 15:15 local
Place
Merlin, OR
Phase of flight
Descent
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N9785M
NTSB investigation
NTSBSEA03FA059
Reported as
Cessna T207A
Reported engine
Continental TSIO520*
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
2
Pilot’s flight hours
34,500 total4,520 in this make and model
N9785MRegistration cancelled Oct 24, 2003 · Cessna T207AS/N 20700729 · Built 1981Airframe modelCessna T207AEngine modelContinental TSIO-520-MReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Metars 1-1/4SM, br, FEW001, SCT009, OVC019, ntaps indicates that aircraft was on direct track from oth to grants pass, Oregon. Last radar contact showed aircraft at 5200 feet approximately 10-12 miles from grants pass, OR. Aircraft wreckage located on southern mountain ridge of a mountain six miles west of sextant mountain (metars). Summit of impacted mountain elevation (GPS) is 3015 feet. N9785M impacted treetop at summit with left wing strut. This caused separation of left wing (located in treetops) and subsequent impact with surrounding treeline and ridge .14 miles south of initial tree strike. The initially impacted tree top is approximately 60 feet in height. Per metars and flight service issued notice of obscured mountains, aircraft was operating contrary to limitations for VFR flight (class e). Position of flight controls indicate aircraft in cruise configuration at time of impact. (-23 amendment) accident site (impact point) I located within class g airspace (700 feet AGL), not class 3 as initially provided. Aircraft was operating within class e initially (radar plot) and descended to class g. regional mountain tops were reported as being obscured per meteorological notice issued April 9, 2003.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) METARS 1-1/4SM, BR, FEW001, SCT009, OVC019, NTAPS INDICATES THAT AIRCRAFT WAS ON DIRECT TRACK FROM OTH TO GRANTS PASS, OREGON. LAST RADAR CONTACT SHOWED AIRCRAFT AT 5200 FEET APPROXIMATELY 10-12 MILES FROM GRANTS PASS, OR. AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE LOCATED ON SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN RIDGE OF A MOUNTAIN SIX MILES WEST OF SEXTANT MOUNTAIN (METARS). SUMMIT OF IMPACTED MOUNTAIN ELEVATION (GPS) IS 3015 FEET. N9785M IMPACTED TREETOP AT SUMMIT WITH LEFT WING STRUT. THIS CAUSED SEPARATION OF LEFT WING (LOCATED IN TREETOPS) AND SUBSEQUENT IMPACT WITH SURROUNDING TREELINE AND RIDGE .14 MILES SOUTH OF INITIAL TREE STRIKE. THE INITIALLY IMPACTED TREE TOP IS APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET IN HEIGHT. PER METARS AND FLIGHT SERVICE ISSUED NOTICE OF OBSCURED MOUNTAINS, AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING CONTRARY TO LIMITATIONS FOR VFR FLIGHT (CLASS E). POSITION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS INDICATE AIRCRAFT IN CRUISE CONFIGURATION AT TIME OF IMPACT. (-23 AMENDMENT) ACCIDENT SITE (IMPACT POINT) I LOCATED WITHIN CLASS G AIRSPACE (700 FEET AGL), NOT CLASS 3 AS INITIALLY PROVIDED. AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING WITHIN CLASS E INITIALLY (RADAR PLOT) AND DESCENDED TO CLASS G. REGIONAL MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE REPORTED AS BEING OBSCURED PER METEOROLOGICAL NOTICE ISSUED APRIL 9, 2003.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB SEA03FA059Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportMerlin, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain while in cruise flight. Factors include low ceilings and mountainous terrain.Apr 9, 2003 · Destroyed