# NTSB SEA83FA115: Cessna 180J, N42917, North Bend, WA, May 30, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 30, 1983, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: North Bend, WA
- Coordinates: 47.390617, -121.610908 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3906&lon=-121.6109&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39613
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA83FA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39613/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83FA115

## Analysis

THE PLT HAD REQUESTED A VFR DEPARTURE EASTBOUND TO WATERVILLE & RADAR FLT FOLLOWING. HE STATED HE WOULD BE GOING VFR THROUGH STAMPEDE PASS. AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT WAS TRACKED ON A RADAR HEADING OF ENE AT AN ALTITUDE OF 2,500 FT MSL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE PLT CANCELLED FLIGHT FOLLOWING, STATING HE CAN MAINTAIN VFR & WOULD BE STAYING LOW. THE ACFT IMPACTED RAPIDLY UPSLOPING TERRAIN 1 MI NORTH OF INTERSTATE 90 AT 3,950 FT MSL. THE SITE IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF A VALLEY THROUGH WHICH I-90 PROCEEDS GENERALLY EASTBOUND. THE APPROXIMATE MINIMUM LATERAL DISTANCE ACROSS THE VALLEY AT THE 4,000 FT LEVEL IS 12,000 FT. THE 1555 PDT WX RECORDED BY THE STAMPEDE PASS WX OBSERVATION FACILITY, LOCATED 15 MIFROM THE ACCIDENT SITE & AT AN ELEVATION OF 3,800 FT, WAS CEILING INDEFINITE OBSCURATION (AT THE SURFACE) & 1/8 MI VISIBILITY IN FOG. THE FLAP HANDLE WAS FOUND TO BE PULLED UP INTO A POSITION OF PARTIAL FLAP EXTENSION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, climb
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, climb
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N42917 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180J
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18052385
- Airframe hours: 1379
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ernie L. And Sandra Schick
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 1982, 145 hours before
- Departed: SEA, SEATTLE, WA
- Destination: 2S5, WATERVILLE, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,000 total, 27 in this make and model, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 7 °F

## 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 19830530021949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830530021949A), May 30, 1983: Cessna 180J, North Bend, WA, Destroyed. Struck the side of a cloud obscured mountain. Indicates pilot was following a freeway prior to impact. No wx brief.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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