# NTSB SEA88MA015: Cessna 310N, N4178Q, Bellingham, WA, November 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: November 4, 1987, 22:40 local (Nov 5, 1987, 06:40 UTC)
- Place: Bellingham, WA
- Coordinates: 48.730743, -122.480278 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7307&lon=-122.4803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 19, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40902
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88MA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40902/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88MA015

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - light condition - bright night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS CHARTERED TO TAKE UNIVERSITY (WWU) PSNL TO AN ALUMNI DINNER. WHILE RTRNG AT NGT, THE PLT MADE A LOCALIZER ONLY, ILS RWY 16 APCH IN MARGINAL VFR CONDS. DRG THE APCH, RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED & THE PLT WAS TOLD TO CTC BELLINGHAMRADIO, BUT HE DID NOT LND OR CTC THE FACILITY. RADAR DATA SHOWED HE CONTD SOUTHBOUND TWD WWU & CHGD THE TRANSPONDER CODETO 1200 (VFR). RADAR CTC WAS LOST FOR APRX 1-1/2 MIN AS THE ACFT PASSED OVR THE VCNTY OF WWU & 1 OF THE PAX'S HOME, THENRADAR CTC WAS REESTABLISHED. WITNESSES IN THE AREA RPRTD SEEING A LOW FLYING ACFT AT APRX THAT TIME. THE ACFT THEN FLEW TO THE VCNTY OF SVRL LARGE REFINERIES APRX 9 MI NNW OF THE ARPT & RADAR CTC WAS LOST AGAIN. WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT LAND AT THE ARPT, A SEARCH WAS STARTED. IT WAS FND WHERE IT HAD HIT 200' TREES & CRASHED. NO ONE SAW THE ACDNT, BUT 2 PERSONSSAW AN ACFT FLYING AT LOW ALT IN THAT VCNTY WITH THE LNDG LGT ON. THEY ALSO RPRTD PTCHY FOG IN THE AREA. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TURNED TO AN EASTERLY HDG BFR IT CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT MECH PRBLM WAS FND THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSE THE ACDNT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4178Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4178Q-1991-03-29), registration cancelled 1991-03-29, S/N 310N0078 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310N
- Registry model: [Cessna 310N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310n) (registry code 2074234) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0078
- Airframe hours: 3012
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-VO 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Cascade Flight School
- Registered owner: Flying School Of The Cascades
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 1987, 53 hours before
- Departed: TIW, TACOMA, WA
- Destination: BELLINGHAM, WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BLI, Bellingham Intl, runway 16, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,631 total, 220 in this make and model, 1,358 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BLI, 9 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 19871104062249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871104062249A), Nov 4, 1987: Cessna 310N, Bellingham, WA, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Struck trees on a night localizer approach in dense fog. Radio equipment inoperable prior to flight.

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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