# NTSB SEA04FA154: Cessna 182P, N79404, Port Angeles, WA, August 4, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 2004, 21:53 local (Aug 4, 2004, 04:53 UTC) - Place: Port Angeles, WA - Coordinates: 48.031112, -123.436943 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0311&lon=-123.4369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Cessna Aircraft Company, FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59832 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04FA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59832/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04FA154 ## Probable cause The 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. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, climb - vfr flight into imc - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, climb - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The passengers reported that shortly after takeoff in dark night conditions, the pilot made a turn toward rising terrain. During the climb, the aircraft entered clouds. The passenger could see terrain on both sides of the aircraft and questioned the pilot as to what mountain she was seeing. The pilot responded, "just a minute." The aircraft then suddenly broke out of the cloud and the passenger could see trees in front of the airplane. The pilot pulled up, but the aircraft collided with the tree tops and tumbled through the trees for several hundred feet before coming to rest. The passengers reported no engine or aircraft malfunction or physiological problems with the pilot at the time. Rain, clouds and fog were reported in the area at the time. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 3, 2004, about 2153 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N79404, registered to a private individual and being operated by Rite Brothers Aviation, was destroyed on impact with trees and terrain, approximately six miles south of Port Angeles, Washington. The instrument rated commercial pilot was fatally injured and the two passengers received minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight initially took off in night visual meteorological conditions before entering instrument meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at the Fairchild International Airport (CLM), Port Angeles, Washington, approximately eight minutes earlier, and was en route to Boeing Field / King County International (BFI), Seattle, Washington. There was no fire or report of an ELT activation. During an interview with the passengers on August 5, by investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration, and in subsequent written statements, the two passengers reported that they met the pilot, who was also a friend, at the airport about 2100 for the purpose of flying them to Boeing Field to meet friends. The passengers reported that the takeoff was to the east. After departure, they noticed the lights of Port Angeles out the left (north) side of the airplane. They reported that during the climb, the airplane gradually began a turn to the right (south), and then encountered the clouds. The front seat passenger stated that they quickly ascended to approximately 2,000 feet and that the pilot made the statement that they were going to fly above the clouds. The front seat passenger then asked the pilot what mountain was located to their right as it seemed to her that they were in a valley as she could see terrain on both sides of the airplane. The pilot responded "just a minute." The airplane then broke out of the clouds and the front seat passenger could see trees. The pilot responded by pulling up, however, the airplane immediately collided with the tree tops and began to tumble before coming to rest. The passenger seated in the left rear reported similar circumstances adding that the weather at the airport was partly cloudy around the airport, with Port Angeles being clear. The passenger reported that, "There was no indication of mechanical failure, or physiological problem with the pilot." The passenger also reported that during the climb, she had asked the pilot how fast they were going and he responded 100 knots. Both passengers reported that the pilot did not indicate to them the intended route of flight to Boeing Field and they did not know why the pilot turned toward the mountains after takeoff. All three were wearing headsets and were able to talk amongst themselves during the flight. Witnesses at the Heart-of-the-Hills Campground located about half-a-mile north of the accident site reported hearing (engine noise) and seeing an airplane flying low heading to the southwest at less than 500 feet above ground level. The sound of the engine was heard during this time as the airplane continued toward the mountains. Within seconds of hearing and observing the aircraft, the sound of the impact was heard followed by the engine sound stopping. One witness reported seeing the lights on the airplane (nose, both wingtips and navigation lights). Another witness stated that, "It did not sound like it was having any engine problems. The weather - raining and low clouds." Park service personnel reported that the Heart-of-the Hills Campground elevation is approximately 1,850 feet mean sea level. Shortly after calls were received from the witnesses reporting the accident, park service personnel began a search. The Fire and Aviation Management Officer reported that he began to hike the hill above the campground and reported that he started hitting misty fog about 500 feet above the campground around 0100 the following morning. The fog got heavier the higher he climbed to about 2,600 to 2,700 feet on the ridgeline. Unable to continue due to the dark night conditions and steep terrain, the officer discontinued his ground search about 0230. The passengers reported that at daylight, they were able to find their cell phone among the wreckage and called 911. Search and rescue personnel located the accident site about 0800 on August 4, 2004. PERSONNEL INFORMATION At the time of the accident, the pilot held a commercial certificate for single and multi-engine aircraft with an instrument rating. The pilot's flight logbooks indicated a total flight time in all aircraft of approximately 668 hours, with approximately 523 hours as pilot-in-command. A total flight time in the make/model aircraft involved in the accident was approximately 37 hours. The logbook indicated an instrument competency check sign-off on June 12, 2004, with six instrument landing system approaches recorded at Port Angeles. A flight review sign-off was indicated on October 16, 2002, in a Cessna 172. The pilot held a second class medical certificate dated March 5, 2004. A restriction was listed as must wear lenses for distance - possess glasses for near vision. The pilot was a resident of Port Angeles, and the flight logbook indicated several years of flying from the Port Angles Airport to airports in the local area, to include several flight to and from Seattle/Boeing Field. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Seattle Automated Flight Service Station reported the METAR weather for Port Angeles Airport at 2053 as wind from 270 degrees at 5 knots. Visibility was 10 statute miles with light rain. Few clouds were reported at 2,400 feet, scattered clouds at 2,900 feet and overcast at 3,700 feet. Temperature was 16 degrees C and dewpoint was 14 degrees C. The altimeter setting was 30.01" Hg. The METAR weather at 2153 reported the wind from 280 degrees at 4 knots. Visibility was 7 statute miles with light rain. An overcast layer was reported at 3,700 feet. Temperature and dewpoint were 14 degrees C. The altimeter setting was 30.02" Hg. Personnel at Rite Brothers reported that the pilot obtained weather from the computer system located at their facility. Flight plan information was input, however, did not go through due to incomplete information input by the pilot. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION On site documentation of the wreckage was conducted on August 5, 2004, by investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration and Cessna Aircraft Company. The wreckage was located in a remote, densely forested area, along terrain that sloped downward at approximately 45 degrees. Coordinates of the wreckage site were determined, with the aid of a hand held global positioning system (GPS), to be 48 degrees, 01.52 minutes North latitude, 123 degrees, 26.13 minutes West longitude, at an elevation of approximately 3,000 feet mean sea level. The terrain to the south rose to heights to about 5,000 feet. The wreckage distribution path crossed the Angeles Lake Trail in an east-west direction. Trees to the west of the main wreckage were broken approximately 80 feet above ground level. The debris field encompassed an area approximately 310 feet long and approximately 80 feet wide, on a magnetic heading of 090 degrees. Wreckage located at the initial impact point consisted of the outboard nine feet of the right wing, with the entire aileron attached at the hinges. A leading edge indentation, with brown transfer signatures and aft crushing, was noted 32 inches inboard from the wing tip. The aileron control cable had separated and the ends were frayed. The left outboard wing, with the lift strut attached to the wing section attach point, was located approximately 50 feet from the initial impact point was entangled in the limbs of a tree approximately 60 feet above ground level. The left inboard win ## Aircraft - Registration: [N79404](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79404-2006-09-28), registration cancelled 2006-09-28, S/N 18261815, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182P - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18261815 - Engines: Continental O-470-50 235 hp reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rite Brothers Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 30, 2004 - Departed: CLM, Port Angeles, WA - Destination: BFI, Seattle, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 16, 2002; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 668 total, 37 in this make and model, 523 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 280° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: CLM, 6 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040803018799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040803018799A), Aug 3, 2004: Cessna 182P, Port Angeles, WA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-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… 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.