20180503004539A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 172N · Port Angeles, WA · May 3, 2018

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal NTSB investigation search

Date: May 3, 2018 · 08:10 local
Place: Port Angeles, WA
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: RTEA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N734QQ
Reported as: Cessna 172N
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,390 total800 in this make and model235 in the last 90 days

N734QQRegistration cancelled Apr 1, 2019 · Cessna 172NS/N 17269034 · Built 1977 Airframe modelCessna 172N Engine modelLycoming 0-320 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.

A Cessna 172 departed Port Angeles airport (kclm) at approximately 0745 local on a direct route to shelton airport (kshn), the pilot was the only person on board. The aircraft was operating under 14 code of federal regulations (CFR) part 91. The pre-takeoff engine run-up was normal. The takeoff, departure and initial climb out was normal. About 25 minutes into the flight the pilot noticed that he was too close to the rising terrain and realized that he would be unable to clear the terrain in front of him so he executed a climbing turn to the right. At approximately 0810 and about 90 degrees into that right turn the aircraft began to stall and the pilot pushed the nose over and impacted the mountain snowfield. During the flight, from pre-departure to impact, the ceiling and visibility was unrestricted (cavu). The pilot received injuries and was airlifted to the hospital. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

As the FAA filed it

A CESSNA 172 DEPARTED PORT ANGELES AIRPORT (KCLM) AT APPROXIMATELY 0745 LOCAL ON A DIRECT ROUTE TO SHELTON AIRPORT (KSHN), THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY PERSON ON BOARD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING UNDER 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91. THE PRE-TAKEOFF ENGINE RUN-UP WAS NORMAL. THE TAKEOFF, DEPARTURE AND INITIAL CLIMB OUT WAS NORMAL. ABOUT 25 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE PILOT NOTICED THAT HE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE RISING TERRAIN AND REALIZED THAT HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN IN FRONT OF HIM SO HE EXECUTED A CLIMBING TURN TO THE RIGHT. AT APPROXIMATELY 0810 AND ABOUT 90 DEGREES INTO THAT RIGHT TURN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO STALL AND THE PILOT PUSHED THE NOSE OVER AND IMPACTED THE MOUNTAIN SNOWFIELD. DURING THE FLIGHT, FROM PRE-DEPARTURE TO IMPACT, THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY WAS UNRESTRICTED (CAVU). THE PILOT RECEIVED INJURIES AND WAS AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.