# NTSB SEA84FA060: Cessna 172N, N4603F, Kent, WA, February 24, 1984 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: February 24, 1984, 13:55 local (21:55 UTC) - Place: Kent, WA - Coordinates: 47.359592, -122.099891 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3596&lon=-122.0999&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39792 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA84FA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39792/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84FA060 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, maneuvering - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) AT ABOUT 1345 PST, THE PLT OF A CESSNA 172N, N4603F, DEPARTED CREST AIRPARK, KENT, WA, ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLT. APRX 5 MIN LATER, THE PLT & 1 PASSENGER OF A FLOAT EQUIPPED CESSNA 180, N4908A, TOOK OFF FROM LAKE MERIDIAN, KENT, WA, & WERE ALSO ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLT. AT APRX 1355, THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED IN FLT, THEN PLUNGED TO THE GROUND. A WITNESS, WHO SAW BOTH ACFT JUST PRIOR TO THE IN-FLT COLLISION, ESTIMATED THAT THEY WERE AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL WHEN THEY COLLIDED WITH EACH OTHER. HE STATED THAT ONE ACFT APPEARED TO BE ON A SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING WHILE THE OTHER SEEMED TO BE TRAVELING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST. HE DID NOT OBSERVE ANY EVASIVE ACTION BY EITHER PLT & BELIEVED THAT NEITHER PLT SAW THE OTHER ACFT AS THEY WERE CONVERGING. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED LEFT WING TO LEFT WING. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) AT ABOUT 1345 PST, THE PLT OF A CESSNA 172N, N4603F, DEPARTED CREST AIRPARK, KENT, WA, ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLT. APRX 5 MIN LATER, THE PLT & 1 PASSENGER OF A FLOAT EQUIPPED CESSNA 180, N4908A, TOOK OFF FROM LAKE MERIDAN, KENT, WA, & WAS ALSO ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLT. AT ABOUT 1355, THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED IN FLT, THEN PLUNGED TO THE GROUND. A WITNESS, WHO SAW BOTH ACFT JUST PRIOR TO THE IN-FLT COLLISION, ESTIMATED THAT THEY WERE AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL WHEN THEY COLLIDED WITH EACH OTHER. HE STATED THAT ONE APPEARED TO BE ON A SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING WHILE THE OTHER SEEMED TO BE TRAVELING TO THE NORTHWEST. HE DID NOT OBSERVE ANY EVASIVE ACTION BY EITHER PLT & BELIEVED THAT NEITHER PLT SAW THE OTHER ACFT AS THEY WERE CONVERGING. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED LEFT WING TO LEFT WING. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N4603F (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273066 - Airframe hours: 1694 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Norman C. Grier - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 4, 1984, 41 hours before - Departed: S36 ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N4908A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4908A-2015-05-05), registration cancelled 2015-05-05, S/N 32305, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32305 - Airframe hours: 4831 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-K 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vincent B. Stephan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 1983, 42 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N4603F; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 123 total, 121 in this make and model, 97 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days - Pilot, aircraft N4908A; age 44; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 40,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19840224043701A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840224043701A), Feb 24, 1984: Cessna 172N, Kent, WA, Destroyed. Collided with a float equipped 180 N4908A.witnesses said aircraft were circling each other prior mid air collision. - [Accident 19840224043702A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840224043702A), Feb 24, 1984: Cessna 180, Kent, WA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Float equipped aircraft collided with a 172 N4603F. Witness indicated both were circling prior to collision. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.