# NTSB SEA87FA062: Cessna 150, N704HM, Ellensburg, WA, January 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 8, 1987, 11:36 local (19:36 UTC)
- Place: Ellensburg, WA
- Coordinates: 46.970512, -120.47023 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9705&lon=-120.4702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 21, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40515
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA87FA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40515/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA87FA062

## Analysis

THE TWO COMMERCIALLY CERTIFICATED INSTRUMENT RATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS DEPARTED ELLENSBURG AT APPROXIMATELY 1120 PST ON A LOCAL FLIGHT. BOTH PILOTS HAD APPOINTMENTS AT 1300 HOURS PST. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED IN LOWER TERRAIN NEAR ELLENSBURG, HOWEVER, A SCATTERED TO OVERCAST CLOUD LAYER EXISTED AT APPROXIMATELY 5000 FEET MSL THROUGHOUT THE AREA. ADDITIONALLY, WITNESSES REPORTED FOG & OBSCURATION IN HIGHER TERRAIN THROUGHOUT THE AREA NEAR THE SITE WITHIN A FEW HOURS SUBSEQUENT TO THE ACCIDENT. EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT A COURSE REVERSAL WAS BEING EXECUTED CONCURRENT WITH TREE IMPACTS AT APPROXIMATELY 4425 FEET MSL WHILE OVERFLYING RISING/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THERE WAS NO RECORD THAT EITHER PILOT HAD RECEIVED ANY FORMAL MOUNTAIN FLYING TRAINING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, unknown
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s)
  - clearance - not maintained (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N704HM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N704HM-1989-03-21), registration cancelled 1989-03-21, S/N 15078624 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15078624
- Airframe hours: 3720
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A(48) 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ronald V. Mitchell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 27, 1986, 83 hours before
- Departed: ELN, ELLENSBURG, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,206 total, 1,940 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day

## 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 19870108008049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870108008049A), Jan 8, 1987: Cessna 150M, Ellensburg, WA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. The aircraft struck trees during low level operations. Heavy fog was reported by ground observers.

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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