20040803018799A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 182P · Port Angeles, WA · August 3, 2004

Date: August 3, 2004 · 21:53 local
Place: Port Angeles, WA
Airport: William R Fairchild International
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N79404
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA04FA154
Reported as: Cessna 182P
Reported engine: Continental O470*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 668 total37 in this make and model45 in the last 90 days

N79404Registration cancelled Sep 28, 2006 · Cessna 182PS/N 18261815 · Built 1973 Airframe modelCessna 182P Engine modelContinental O-470 seriesReciprocating

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) On August 3, 2004, N79404 on a part 91 personal flight, a pilot and two passengers took off from the Port Angeles, Washington Fairchild international airport (clm) at about 2153 PDT. The aircraft shortly after take off at about 1100 feet turned right and headed south. Passengers reported that the aircraft came in contact with fog and clouds, pilot began to climb, and continued south. At approximately 3000 feet the aircraft impacted the tree tops and was completely destroyed. The instrument rated pilot was fatally injured and both passengers received minor injuries. The flight took place at night in instrument meteorological conditions with no flight plan filed. Aircraft was on route to Boeing field/king county airport. Flight lasted approximately 8 minutes. There was no fire at the accident scene. No ELT activation was reported.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON AUGUST 3, 2004, N79404 ON A PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT, A PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS TOOK OFF FROM THE PORT ANGELES, WASHINGTON FAIRCHILD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (CLM) AT ABOUT 2153 PDT. THE AIRCRAFT SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF AT ABOUT 1100 FEET TURNED RIGHT AND HEADED SOUTH. PASSENGERS REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT CAME IN CONTACT WITH FOG AND CLOUDS, PILOT BEGAN TO CLIMB, AND CONTINUED SOUTH. AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 FEET THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TREE TOPS AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED AND BOTH PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT TOOK PLACE AT NIGHT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED. AIRCRAFT WAS ON ROUTE TO BOEING FIELD/KING COUNTY AIRPORT. FLIGHT LASTED APPROXIMATELY 8 MINUTES. THERE WAS NO FIRE AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE. NO ELT ACTIVATION WAS REPORTED.

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 SEA04FA154Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPort Angeles, WAThe pilot's VFR flight into IMC and his failure to maintain clearance from trees. Trees, mountainous terrain, dark night conditions, clouds and VFR flight into IMC were factors.Aug 4, 2004 · Destroyed