# NTSB SEA84FA036: Cessna C172N, N5216E, Arco, ID, January 6, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 6, 1984, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Arco, ID
- Coordinates: 43.650691, -113.280265 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6507&lon=-113.2803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39788
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA84FA036
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39788/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84FA036

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO COMPANY PERSONNEL, THE FLT WAS OPERATED AS A CHARTER. THE PLT, ALSO THE COMPANY DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT FAR 135 FLIGHTS UNDER INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CONDITIONS. HE WAS REPORTED TO HAVE STATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO 'GET A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE AND SEE IF HE COULD MAKE IT UNDERNEATH.' WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT FLYING VERY LOW AND TO DISAPPEAR INTO CLOUDS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5216E (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C172N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17271775
- Airframe hours: 2166
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Westcon Associates, Inc., doing business as Golden Eagle
- Registered owner: Terry B. Arrington
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 26, 1983, 33 hours before
- Departed: IDA, IDAHO FALLS, ID
- Destination: U15, CHALLIS, ID

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,610 total, 2,401 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day

## 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 19840106000369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840106000369A), Jan 6, 1984: Cessna 172N, Arco, ID, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Pilot was attempting flight underneath weather and aircraft crashed into rising terrain.

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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