# Accident 20030418018149A: Cessna 320D, Lost River, WA, April 18, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 18, 2003, 08:15 local time
- Place: Lost River, WA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: N4178T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4178T-2013-08-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 320D (registry code 2074512, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 320D
- Reported engine: CONT IO520*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030418018149A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON APRIL 18TH, 2003 AT APPROXIMATELY 07:30 AM, COMMERCIAL PILOT DAVID NICHOLS DEPARTED THE WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON AIRPORT (EAT) IN 4178T, A 1965 CESSNA 320 AIRCRAFT. MR NICHOLS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY ONE MALE PASSENGER. THIS PARTICULAR AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED FOR FLIGHT IN ICING CONDITIONS. 107 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS PURCHASED FOR N4178T PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM THE WENATCHEE AIRPORT. THIS AIRCRAFT HAD ONLY TWO SEATS INSTALLED AND WAS EQUIPPED WITH TWO ADDITIONAL WING LOCKER TANKS. THE WEATHER REPORT AT THE WENATCHEE AIRPORT AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE WAS REPORTED AT 8,000 FEET MSL. ANOTHER PILOT WHO WITNESSED THE DEPARTURE OF N4178T REPORTED IFR CONDITIONS WEST OF THE WENATCHEE AIRPORT IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN. N4178T HAD DEPARTED WITHOUT AN IFR OR VFR FLIGHT PLAN. THE DESTINATION OF N4178T WAS, AND REMAINS UNKNOWN. TWO AIRCRAFT OPERATING IN THE TWISP, WASHINGTON AREA OBSERVED THE CESSNA 320 AIRCRAFT FLYING NORTHBOUND AT ALTITUDES DESCRIBED BETWEEN 200' & 500' FEET AGL NORTHBOUND UP THE METHOW VALLEY. THESE WERE THE LAST SIGHTINGS OF N4178T AT APPROXIMATELY 08:00 AM. PILOTS IN THE TWISP, WASHINGTON AREA ESTIMATED THE CEILING TO BE 5,000 FEET MSL WITH ISOLATED RAIN SHOWERS AND DECREASINGCONDITIONS TO THE NORTHWEST. ON AUGUST 8, 2003 A FIRE FIGHTING HELICOPTER, OPERATING OVER THE PASAYTEN WILDERNESS AREA LOCATED THE AIRCRAFT. THE CRASH SITE IS LOCATED 8.5 NAUTICAL MILES NORTH OF THE LOST RIVER AIRPORT (W12). DURING THE FAA/NTSB ONSITE INVESTIGATION THE SPECIFIC SITE WAS DETERMINED TO BE N48'47.36.96 W120'33.59.64 AT 5076 MSL IN A "BOX CANYON". AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE INVESTIGATION, AL INDICATIONS WERE THAT BOTH ENGINES WERE PROVIDING POWER AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE REMAINS OF TWO OCCUPANTS WERE LOCATED AT THE CRASH SITE. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT INTERIOR REVEALED A SMALL AMOUNT OF A "GREEN LEAFY SUBSTANCE" AND $118,000 CASH. THE OKANOGAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

## Other reports on N4178T (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20030417007859I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030417007859I), Apr 17, 2003: Cessna 320D (N4178T), Wenatchee, WA, No damage. (-23) Seattle TRACON and ARTCC (air route traffic control center) were contacted. Neither facility provided radar services to the missing aircraft. Radar data…

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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