# NTSB SEA78FA018: Cessna 320E, N3431Q, Steptoe, WA, December 1, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 1, 1977
- Place: Steptoe, WA · STEPTOE, WA
- Location: 47.0074° N, 117.3502° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Steptoe, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0074&lon=-117.3502&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 14, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201251
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA78FA018
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78FA018-201251

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3334   77/12/1   STEPTOE,WA          CESSNA 320E         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 49, 630
        TIME - 1103                    N3431Q              PX-  0  3  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 115 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SPOKANE,WA                  RENO,NV
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INSTRUMENTS-MISREAD OR FAILED TO READ
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-2 ENGINES
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      32
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- NO ENG OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION FOUND.BOTH ENG SHUTDOWN.HIT GRD AFTER SPIN RECOVERY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3431Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3431Q-1981-01-21), registration cancelled 1981-01-21, S/N 320E-0031, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 320E
- Registry model: [Cessna 320E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320e) (registry code 2074514) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19771201038349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771201038349A), Dec 1, 1977: Cessna 320E, Steptoe, WA, Destroyed. No eng or system malfunction found. Both eng shutdown. Hit grd after spin recovery.

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.

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