# NTSB SEA02LA098: Unknown Quicksilver MX II, Cook, WA, June 9, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 2002, 10:25 local (17:25 UTC) - Place: Cook, WA - Coordinates: 45.712223, -122.673889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7122&lon=-122.6739&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54878 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54878/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54878 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA098 ## Probable cause Failure to maintain aircraft control. High winds were a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, unknown - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) ## Analysis At the time of the accident, the aircraft was flying as part of a group of aircraft flying from Sandy to Hermiston. One member of this group reported that the group encountered high winds several miles prior to the crash site. This group member said that he contacted the accident pilot on the radio, and that the accident pilot stated he was all right although the group member observed him gradually losing altitude. The group member stated that he flew past the accident aircraft about 30 seconds prior to the crash, then looked back and saw the accident aircraft on the ground. A witness in a motor vehicle, eastbound on Washington State Route 14 and traveling about 45 MPH at the time, reported to local law enforcement that the accident aircraft overtook her from the left (north) side of the vehicle, and then flew into the embankment "at about a 45 degree angle." This witness reported that the aircraft's ballistic recovery parachute deployed at impact. Winds at Columbia Gorge Regional/The Dalles Municipal Airport, The Dalles, Oregon, were reported as being from 310 degrees true at 22 knots, gusting to 30 knots, at 1053. A peak wind from 310 degrees true at 33 knots was reported at The Dalles at 1038. According to data found in a commercial reference source, the Quicksilver MX II cruises at 51 MPH (44 knots). An inspector from the FAA Flight Standards District Office, Hillsboro, Oregon, examined the wreckage and reported that the engine and undamaged control surfaces appeared to be operational. He stated that there was no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 2002, approximately 1025 Pacific daylight time, an unregistered and uncertificated Quicksilver MX II airplane, being flown by a non-certificated pilot, collided with a rock embankment along the north bank of the Columbia River near Cook, Washington. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot, who was the sole occupant of the two-seat aircraft, was fatally injured. The aircraft's empty weight exceeded the maximum empty weight limitation contained in 14 CFR 103, and the flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight from Sandy, Oregon, to Hermiston, Oregon. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was flying as part of a group of small aircraft flying from Sandy to Hermiston. One member of this group reported that the group encountered high winds several miles prior to the crash site. This group member said that he contacted the accident pilot on the radio, and that the accident pilot stated he was all right although the group member observed him gradually losing altitude. The group member stated that he flew past the accident aircraft about 30 seconds prior to the crash, then looked back and saw the accident aircraft on the ground. A witness in a motor vehicle, eastbound on Washington State Route 14 and traveling about 45 MPH at the time, reported to local law enforcement that the accident aircraft overtook her from the left (north) side of the vehicle, and then flew into the embankment "at about a 45 degree angle." This witness reported that the aircraft's ballistic recovery parachute deployed at impact. Winds at Columbia Gorge Regional/The Dalles Municipal Airport, The Dalles, Oregon, were reported as being from 310 degrees true at 22 knots, gusting to 30 knots, at 1053. A peak wind from 310 degrees true at 33 knots was reported at The Dalles at 1038. According to data found in a commercial reference source, the Quicksilver MX II cruises at 51 MPH (44 knots). An inspector from the FAA Flight Standards District Office, Hillsboro, Oregon, examined the wreckage and reported that the engine and undamaged control surfaces appeared to be operational. He stated that there was no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Unknown Quicksilver MX II - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: Unknown - Engines: Rotax 45 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dean R. Bartell - Departed: Sandy, OR - Destination: Hermiston, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: fatal ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 289° at 22 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: DLS, 18 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54878. 304 KB in all. - FAA Report (item 1, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443328&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Sheriff's Report (item 2, .PDF, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40176071&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Sheriff%27s%20Report-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.