# NTSB SEA88FA078: Piper PA-32RT-300T, N36815, Port Angeles, WA, April 16, 1988 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: April 16, 1988, 05:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Port Angeles, WA - Coordinates: 47.990108, -123.249351 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9901&lon=-123.2494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 40721 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88FA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40721/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88FA078 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis DRG ARR, THE FLT WAS HANDED OFF TO WHIDBEY ISLAND APCH CTL AT WHIDBEY ISLAND (NUW) NAVAL AIR STN (NAS). NUW WAS 35 MI NE OF THE DESTN (FAIRCHILD INTL ARPT/CLM), AT PORT ANGELES, WHICH HAD NO OPERG CTL TWR. THE PLT WAS GIVEN THE NUW WX, WHICH WAS 400 SCAT, ESTD 2600' OVC, VIS 6 MI WITH FOG. THE FLT WAS VECTORED TOWARD CLM & WAS CLRD TO DSCND TO THE MIN VECTORING ALT OF 1000' MSL OVER THE STRAITS OF JUAN DE FUCA. THE PLT RPRTD THE ARPT BEACON IN SIGHT & CANCELLED HIS IFR CLNC. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO FLY OVER THE ARPT AT LOW ALT ON A SW HEADING. THE UNICOM OPERATOR ASKED THE PLT FOR A CEILING RPRT, BUT THE PLT REPLIED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CEILING DUE TO FOG. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHEDON RISING TERRAIN ABOUT 2 MI SSW OF THE ARPT, WHILE IN A LEVEL TURN AT AN ELEV OF 1300'. THE 0505 PDT WX AT CLM WAS ESTD 500' BRKN, 4000' OVC, VIS 6 MI WITH FOG. THE CTLR RPRTD THAT ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE FLT, THE 0505 WX FOR CLM WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE ON HIS WX VISION SCREEN. THE ARPT ELEV AT CLM WAS 290'. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N36815](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36815-2012-11-08), registration cancelled 2012-11-08, S/N 32R-7887086, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300T (PA-32RT-30) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R 7887086 - Airframe hours: 915 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James Stanley Bell - Registered owner: James S. Bell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 1987, 80 hours before - Departed: OLM, OLYMPIA, WA - Destination: CLM - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CLM, Fairchild, runway 8 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 834 total, 203 in this make and model, 737 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 270° at 7 knots - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CLM, 2 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 19880416034979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880416034979A), Apr 16, 1988: Piper PA32RT300T, Port Angeles, WA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Missed visual approach due to ground fog. Struck rising terrain on the go around. Dark foggy night no ground lights ## Other investigations on N36815 (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC80DER01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC80DER01), Oct 13, 1979: Piper PA-32 (N36815), Aitkin, MN, substantial damage 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. --- 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.