# NTSB SEA88FA034: Cessna 182J, N2758F, Molalla, OR, December 30, 1987 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: December 30, 1987, 15:05 local (23:05 UTC) - Place: Molalla, OR - Coordinates: 45.070804, -122.549629 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0708&lon=-122.5496&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 11, 1989 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 40714 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88FA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40714/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88FA034 ## Probable cause THE RECENTLY CERTIFICATED, NON-INSTRUMENT RATED, PVT PLT FLEW INTO THE AN AREA OF LOW CEILINGS, LOW VIS, RAIN & SNW W/O FILING A FLT PLAN. NO RECORD OF A WX BRIEFING WAS FND. A SURVIVING PAX RPRTD THAT DRG FLT, THE PLT FLEW INTO CLDS THAT WERE INITIALLY SCATTERED, BUT AS THE FLT CONTD, THE CLDS BCM THICKER & DARKER. THE PAX SAID THEY FLEW INTO 'ICE CLOUDS.'ICE ACCUMULATED ON THE ACFT & THE ENG BGN TO FALTER. RPRTDLY, CARB HEAT WAS APPLIED TOO LATE TO PREVENT ENG STOPPAGE. A DISTRESS CALL WA MADE AT 1501 PST. SOON THEREAFTER, THE PLT TRANSMITTED THEY WERE 'GOING DOWN' & THEN RADAR & RADIO CTC WERE LOST. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON MTN TERRAIN & CRASHED. THE EMERG LOCATOR BCN (ELT) DID NOT OPER. THE ACFTWAS NOT FND UNTIL 1012 PST THE NEXT DAY APRX 1 MI FM WHERE RADAR CTCT WAS LOST. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT SNW & ICE HAD ACCUMULATED IN THE ENG AIR FILTER. ICE WAS FND IN THE WIRE SCREEN & PLENUM BHND THE FILTER. CARB HEAT WAS ON. RESIDENTS APRX 5 MI AWAY SAID HVY SNW WAS FALLING. TWO DEFECTIVE TRANSISTORS WERE FND IN THE ELT WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED OPN. ## Analysis THE RECENTLY CERTIFICATED, NON-INSTRUMENT RATED, PVT PLT FLEW INTO AN AREA OF LOW CEILINGS, LOW VIS, RAIN & SNW W/O FILING A FLT PLAN. NO RECORD OF A WX BRIEFING WAS FND. A SURVIVING PAX RPRTD THAT DRG FLT, THE PLT FLEW INTO CLDS THAT WERE INITIALLY SCATTERED, BUT AS THE FLT CONTD, THE CLDS BCM THICKER & DARKER. THE PAX SAID THEY FLEW INTO 'ICE CLOUDS.'ICE ACCUMULATED ON THE ACFT & THE ENG BGN TO FALTER. RPRTDLY, CARB HEAT WAS APPLIED TOO LATE TO PREVENT ENG STOPPAGE. A DISTRESS CALL WAS MADE AT 1501 PST. SOON THEREAFTER, THE PLT TRANSMITTED THEY WERE 'GOING DOWN' & THEN RADAR & RADIO CTC WERE LOST. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ON MTN TERRAIN & CRASHED. THE EMERG LOCATOR BCN (ELT) DID NOT OPER. THE ACFTWAS NOT FND UNTIL 1012 PST THE NEXT DAY APRX 1 MI FM WHERE RADAR CTCT WAS LOST. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT SNW & ICE HAD ACCUMULATED IN THE ENG AIR FILTER. ICE WAS FND IN THE WIRE SCREEN & PLENUM BHND THE FILTER. CARB HEAT WAS ON. RESIDENTS APRX 5 MI AWAY SAID HVY SNW WAS FALLING. TWO DEFECTIVE TRANSISTORS WERE FND IN THE ELT WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED OPN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause) - induction air control,air filter/screen - blocked(total) (cause) - induction air control,air filter/screen - ice (cause) - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - carburetor heat - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2758F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2758F-2012-10-18), registration cancelled 2012-10-18, S/N 18256858, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182J - Registry model: [Cessna 182J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182j) (registry code 2072722) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18256858 - Airframe hours: 1677 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Walter W. Breeden - Registered owner: Walter Breeden - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 25, 1987, 36 hours before - Departed: LNS, LOS BANOS, CA - Destination: WA05, BATTLE GROUND, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 129 total, 64 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SLE, 22 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 19871230078809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871230078809A), Dec 30, 1987: Cessna 182J, Molalla, OR, Destroyed, 3 fatal. VFR pilot flew into clouds and severe icing. Intake icing stopped the engine. Crashed into trees. No wx briefing. ## Other investigations on N2758F (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB NYC68D0088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC68D0088), Jul 22, 1967: Cessna 182 (N2758F), Wayne, NJ, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.