# NTSB SEA84FA023: Cessna 304A, N98567, Ephrata, WA, November 26, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 26, 1983, 14:11 local (22:11 UTC)
- Place: Ephrata, WA
- Coordinates: 47.269451, -119.590965 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2695&lon=-119.5910&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39784
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA84FA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39784/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84FA023

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, missed approach (ifr)
  - procedures/directives - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - ifr procedure - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - equipment,other - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A HILLTOP DURING A MISSED APPROACH IN IMC WEATHER. THE ACFT WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. THE PLT STATED VISUAL CONTACT WAS EST AT ABOUT 2000 FT MSL BUT GROUND FEATURES WERE MASKED IN SNOW. WHEN THE PLT DID NOT SEE THE AIRPORT AT THE PROPER TIME HE COMMENCED A MISSED APPROACH AND THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE OBS(VOR COURSE INDICATOR) WAS SET ON 222 DEGREES INSTEAD OF 202 DEGREES FOR THE PUBLISHED INBOUND HEADING. THE RESULTANT COURSE PASSED DIRECTLY OVER THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE ACFT WAS NOT OBSERVED ON RADAR BECAUSE OF ITS LOW ALT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98567](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98567-2013-03-21), registration cancelled 2013-03-21, S/N 340A0036, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 304A
- Registry model: [Cessna 340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (registry code 2076405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0036
- Airframe hours: 1951
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TS10-520-N 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: The Pacific Institute Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 16, 1983, 57 hours before
- Departed: BFI, SEATTLE, WA
- Destination: 2SO, TWISP, WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: EPH, Ephrata, runway 29, 7,300 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,948 total, 1,590 in this make and model, 4,783 as pilot in command, 440 in the last 90 days, 170 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EPH, 2 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 19831126058979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831126058979A), Nov 26, 1983: Cessna 340A, Ephrata, WA, Destroyed. Pilot had wrong radial set during IFR approach and flew into ground just as he was beginning missed approach.

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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