- Date
- May 20, 1985, 12:05 local (20:05 UTC)
- Place
- Blyn, WA
- Injuries
- 4 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- CFCTCPiper PA-23-250
- Weather
- Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 40045
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft impacted rising terrain at the 1860 ft level during an IFR flt in IMC conditions. The acft was reportedly to fly 'VFR on top' or IFR at 3000 plus ft enroute to portland. The plt was off course for destination when it impacted mt. Blyn. The acft trim was found set for 'nose left' at the accident site but the area was not secured before being vandalized (parts missing & suspected of being stolen) and the wreckage had been subjected to 24 hours of fire and some post impact explosions as evidenced by the molten metal blasted against the sides of nearby trees. The acft impacted trees and the ground on an upslope which was obscured by clouds according to residents who heard the acft and the subsequent explosion. The investigation was delayed from may until October by state restrictions due to danger of forestfires.
Aircraft
- Registration
- CFCTC
- Reported as
- Piper PA-23-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 27-3567
- Airframe hours
- 2,250
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-J4A5, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Loren Gowing
- Registered owner
- Alberta Venetian Blinds,Ldt
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- NUW · Nanaimo, B.C.
- Destination
- PDX · Portland, OR
- Flight plan
- VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,675 total · 50 in this make and model · 2,600 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Day
- Wind
- 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PAE, 45 nm away