# NTSB SEA85FA233: Cessna 172N, N4871G, Remote, OR, May 23, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 23, 1985, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Remote, OR
- Location: 43.0059° N, 123.8926° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Remote, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0059&lon=-123.8926&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 25, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40066
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85FA233
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40066/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85FA233

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, unknown
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING A WX BRIEFING, THE NON-INSTRUMENT PLT WAS ADZD THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED DUE TO LOW CLOUDS & ADVERSE WX ALONG THE ROUTE. HOWEVER, HE FILED A VFR FLT PLAN & DEPD ARCATA, CA AT 1240 PDT. AT 1339, IN THE VCNTY OF WILDERVILLE, OR, THE PLT GOT A WX UPDATE. HE WAS ADZD OF ISOLATED TSTMS & BROKEN TO SCATTERED CLOUDS TO 4000' WITH AN UPPER LAYER AT OR ABV 8000' & SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS ALONG THE COAST WITH 1000' TO 2000' SCATTERED CLOUDS. MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE FORE- CAST TO BE OBSCURED. THE PLT'S LAST TRANSMISSION WAS AT 1356 PDT NEAR SEXTON MTN PASS, WHEN HE ASKED FOR THE MEDFORD ALTIMETER SETTING. THE ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE AT THE DESTN & WAS NOT FND DURING A SEARCH. IT WAS FND BY HIKERS ON 4/27/90, WHERE IT HAD COLLIDED WITH TREES ON STEEP MTN TERRAIN AT AN ELEV OF APRX 1800'. THE ACFT WAS BADLY DMGD BY IMPACT & FIRE. NO PREIMPACT MECH PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT. DURING IMPACT, THE PROP SEPD FROM THE CRANKSHAFT & BOTH BLADES HAD 'S TURN' DEFORMATION, LEADING EDGE DAMAGE & CORDWISE STRIATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4871G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4871G-1996-10-11), registration cancelled 1996-10-11, S/N 17273418 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17273418
- Airframe hours: 2006
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Calkins, Thomas C.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 7, 1985, 50 hours before
- Departed: ACV, ARCATA, CA
- Destination: OTH, NORTH BEND, OR
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 51 total, 9 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Observed at: OTH, 63 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 19850523077909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850523077909A), May 23, 1985: Cessna 172N, Remote, OR, Destroyed, 2 fatal. VFR not advised, departed,flew into cloud-obscured trees in a mountain pass. Wreckage found 5 years later.

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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