# NTSB SEA84FA011: Boeing A75N1, N49385, Brewster, WA, October 23, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 23, 1983, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Brewster, WA
- Coordinates: 48.150611, -119.820503 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1506&lon=-119.8205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39779
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA84FA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39779/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84FA011

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS POSITIONING THE ACFT FOR SWATH RUNS WHEN IT CRASHED INTO RISING TERRAIN ON THE SIDE OF A HILL NEXT TO A VALLEY. THE PLT HAD PLANNED TO MAKE SWATH RUNS OVER AN ORCHARD IN THE VALLEY. DURING IMPACT, HE RECEIVED SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES & COULD NOT RECALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE MISHAP. HOWEVER, HE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE ACFT BEFORE FIRE HAD SPREAD TO THE COCKPIT. WITNESSES ABOUT 1 MI FROM THE CRASH SITE REPORTED HEARING A STEADY ENGINE SOUND UNTIL THE ACFT IMPACTED. THE ACFT REMAINED INTACT & THE GROUND SCARS SHOWED THAT IT HAD MOVED ABOUT 6 FT FORWARD & 4 FT LEFT AFTER IMPACTING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N49385](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49385-1988-04-06), registration cancelled 1988-04-06, S/N 752211 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1
- Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 75-2211
- Airframe hours: 9355
- Engines: P&W R-985-AN-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: David C. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 28, 1983, 400 hours before
- Departed: S97, BREWSTER, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 12,000 total, 67 in this make and model, 225 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EAT, 40 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 19831023055389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831023055389A), Oct 23, 1983: Boeing A75N1, Brewster, WA, Destroyed. Struck rising terrain near stall speed during positioning for a spray run.

## Other investigations on N49385 (2)

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.

- [NTSB SEA78DYP28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78DYP28), Apr 20, 1978: Boeing A75N1 (N49385), Mansfield, WA, substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK64X3758](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3758), Sep 3, 1964: Boeing A75 (N49385), Quincy, WA, substantial damage, 1 fatal

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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