# Accident 20110708015019A: Piper PA-22-135, Verlot, WA, July 8, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 8, 2011, 07:30 local time
- Place: Verlot, WA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.1233° N, 121.6639° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1233&lon=-121.6639&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8721C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8721C-2017-10-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-22-135 (registry code 7102206, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-135
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,200 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11FA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA319) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110708015019A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 8, 2011, ABOUT 0730 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-22-135, N8721C, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR VERLOT, WASHINGTON.  THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91.  THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.  VISUAL AND INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED WITHIN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT.  THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR ELK, WASHINGTON, ABOUT 0520, WITH AN INTENDED DESTINATION OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON.FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PILOT DEPARTED ELK, WASHINGTON WITH THE INTENTION OF FLYING TO ARLINGTON TO ATTEND THE FLY-IN.  THE PILOT TOLD FAMILY THAT HE MAY GO TO ELLENSBURG, WASHINGTON, IF THE WEATHER WAS BAD.A FAMILY MEMBER OF THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE OVERDUE TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT THE MORNING OF JULY 9, 2011, AFTER BECOMING CONCERNED WHEN THE PILOT HAD NOT ARRIVED AT HIS INTENDED DESTINATION.  THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) ISSUED AN ALERT NOTIFICATION (ALNOT) FOR THE MISSING AIRPLANE.  THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED BY UNITED STATES NAVY SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) PERSONNEL ABOUT 1400 ON JULY 9 WITHIN HEAVILY WOODED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN NEAR LIBERTY MOUNTAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE BY THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC) REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ON SLOPING TERRAIN ABOUT 200 FEET BELOW A RIDGE LINE AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT . THE WRECKAGE WAS MOSTLY CONSUMED BY FIRE.

## 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 WPR11FA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA319), Jul 8, 2011: Piper PA-22-135 (N8721C), Verlot, WA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The non-instrument rated pilot’s decision to continue visual flight into clouds and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering in an area of reduced visibility, low clouds, and…

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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