# NTSB SEA88FA120: Cessna 150F, N2RE, Skykomish, WA, June 29, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 29, 1988, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Skykomish, WA
- Coordinates: 47.640445, -121.329154 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6404&lon=-121.3292&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40726
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88FA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40726/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88FA120

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE NONINSTRUMENT RATED PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FOLLOW US HIGHWAY 2 WESTBOUND ACROSS THE CASCADES MOUNTAINS. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL WITNESSES UPON CRESTING THE STEVENS PASS AREA AT AN ALTITUDE OF 4300 FEET MSL (APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET AGL) HE ENCOUNTERED LOW CLOUDS AND REDUCED VISIBILITY. THE PILOT THEN FLEW INTO CLOUDS DURING WHICH A DESCENDING CLOCKWISE COURSE CHANGE BACK TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST WAS ATTEMPTED. WHILE THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING THE AIRCRAFT IN A SHALLOW LEFT TURN THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE. CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOST AND THE AIRCRAFT THEN COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2RE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2RE-1994-02-10), registration cancelled 1994-02-10, S/N 15063988 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F
- Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15063988
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ronald F. Eberhart
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, October 8, 1987, 40 hours before
- Departed: 8S2, CASHMERE, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,703 total, 1,628 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 8 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 19880629037799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880629037799A), Jun 29, 1988: Cessna 150F, Skykomish, WA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Indicates pilot flew into trees in a pass after descending into a fog bank was seen following hiway through pass.

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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