# NTSB SEA88LA183: Cessna 150L, N11582, Hadlock, WA, September 22, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 21, 1988, 22:13 local (Sep 22, 1988, 05:13 UTC)
- Place: Hadlock, WA
- Coordinates: 48.000904, -122.740592 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.0009&lon=-122.7406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40890
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88LA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40890/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88LA183

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - not possible
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE RECENTLY CERTIFICATED PILOT DEPARTED ON A TWO HOUR ROUND-ROBIN FLIGHT TO ATTEND A MEETING AND WAS ADVISED TO EXPECT FOG ON RETURN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN FOR ONE HOUR PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT AND WAS NOT REFUELED. NO RECORD OF A WX BRIEF WAS FOUND. PRIOR TO THE RETURN FLIGHT, THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A WX BRIEFING OR REFUELING. THE PILOT WAS ADVISED BY ATC THAT THE DESTINATION WAS IFR. THE PILOT CHANGED HIS DESTINATION TO A NEARBY UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. AFTER HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE AIRPORT, ATC OFFERED VECTORS TO A KNOWN VFR AIRPORT. THE PILOT DID NOT TAKE VECTORS DUE TO LOW FUEL STATE. HE THEN ACCEPTED VECTORS TO A THIRD UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH FOG FLYING AT A LOW ALTITUDE NEAR THE THIRD AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES 1-1/2 MILES FROM THE THIRD AIRPORT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N11582](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11582-1990-03-12), registration cancelled 1990-03-12, S/N 15075538 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15075538
- Airframe hours: 4774
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kenneth A. Hansen, doing business as Rite Bros. Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Kenneth A Hansen
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 11, 1988, 83 hours before
- Departed: S44, SPANAWAY, WA
- Destination: WN41, SEQUIM VALLEY, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 173 total, 21 in this make and model, 93 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft
- Temperature: 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CLM, 29 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 19880921047379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880921047379A), Sep 21, 1988: Cessna 150L, Hadlock, WA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Low on fuel on top of stratus fog. Other aircraft tried to assist. Pilot lost control in cloud, crashed near airport

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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