# NTSB SEA85FA048: Piper PA-28-161, N4369F, Bickleton, WA, January 27, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 26, 1985, 21:09 local (Jan 27, 1985, 05:09 UTC)
- Place: Bickleton, WA
- Coordinates: 45.920223, -120.189315 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9202&lon=-120.1893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40029
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85FA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40029/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85FA048

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fatigue, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT BEGAN FLIGHT ACTIVITY AT DAWN ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. WEATHER BRIEFINGS INDICATED MARGINAL CONDITIONS FOR AN AFTERNOON FLIGHT TO ANOTHER CITY, WHICH WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT INCIDENT. AT 2027 HOURS, WITHOUT UPDATED WEATHER BRIEFING, THE PILOT DEPARTED ON RETURN FLIGHT. RADAR FLIGHT FOLLOWING WAS INITIATED, BUT WAS TERMINATED WHEN THE PILOT COULD NOT MAINTAIN VFR ON ASSIGNED HEADING AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO RESUME OWN NAVIGATION. RADAR INDICATES THAT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE ACFT WAS PROCEEDING SOUTH AT AN UNKNOWN ALT. INITIAL IMPACT ON OPEN RISING TERRAIN WAS APRX 330 DEGS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4369F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 8416113
- Airframe hours: 53
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sportsman Airpark, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PSC, PASCO, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 580 total, 19 in this make and model, 465 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 90° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °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 19850126034009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850126034009A), Jan 26, 1985: Piper PA28161, Bickleton, WA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into lowering ceilings due to rising terrain. Impacted ground in level attitude. Flipped and slid inverted.

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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