- Date
- September 20, 1985, 20:28 local (Sep 21, 1985, 03:28 UTC)
- Place
- Brinnon, WA
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N51698Cessna 172PII
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850920046909A
- Case key
- 40247
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
Acft collided with vertical rock face in mountainous terrain 32 mins after takeoff on night VFR instrument instruction flt, 31 mi west of point of departure. Radar trk shows acft proceeded nw for 14 mins, reversed course for 4 mins, then headed due west into mountainous terrain. Elev of the crash site was 3700 ft. cloud bases in the area (sea level) were reported to be 3000 to 4000 ft with 8 miles vis, scattered rain showers and haze. A mountain rescue team reported on-site condition of the wreckage indicated collision occurred with the acft in level cruise flt. The acft was destroyedby impact forces and post-impact fire except for the outer wing panels and empennage. The acft was not DME equipped and an instrument training hood was on board.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N51698
- Reported as
- Cessna 172PII
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17274337
- Airframe hours
- 1,361
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Ronald Hawks, doing business as Let'S Fly Flying Club
- Registered owner
- Frank L. Abel
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 10, 1985 · 60 hours before
- Departed
- BFI · Seattle, WA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 360 total · 38 in this make and model · 225 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,700 ft broken
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SEA, 31 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.