# NTSB SEA89FA021: Cessna 335, N2706F, Arlington, WA, December 3, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 2, 1988, 17:35 local (Dec 3, 1988, 01:35 UTC)
- Place: Arlington, WA
- Coordinates: 48.180049, -121.67057 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1800&lon=-121.6706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40908
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA89FA021
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40908/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89FA021

## Analysis

DRG A NGT ARR, THE PLT WAS VECTORED FOR A LOC RWY 34 APCH. AFTER RCHG THE FINAL APCH FIX/OUTER MARKER (OM), HE WAS CLRD FOR THE APCH. ABT 5 OR 6 MIN LATER, THE ATC CTLR NOTICED THE ACFT WAS APRX 7 MI NW OF THE ARPT, CLIMBING ABV 3000' MSL. MISSED APCH PROCEDURE WAS TO MAKE A LEFT CLIMBING TURN TO 2000', PROCEED BACK TO THE OM & HOLD. WHEN QUERIED, THE PLT SAID THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE RWY. HE REQUESTED ANOTHER APCH & WAS VECTORED BACK TO THE OM, THEN WAS CLRD FOR A 2ND APCH.WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT MAKE A LOW PASS OVER THE RWY AT APRX 150' AGL. THE ARPT ELEV WAS 137'. MIN DSCNT ALT (MDA) FOR THE APCH WAS 600' MSL (900' FOR CIRCLING APCH). AFTER THE LOW PASS, THE ACFT ENTERED A RGT TURN TO THE EAST. (THERE WAS A WELL LIT INDUSTRIAL AREA APRX 1/2 MI EAST OF THE ARPT.)  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STRUCK TREES & CRASHED AT AN ELEV OF ABT 329. IT CRASHED APRX 2 MI EAST OF THE ARPT WHILE IN A RGT BANK & HDG 117 DEG. ABT 17 MI SOUTH AT EVERETT, THE 1645 WX WAS 100' OBSCD, 1/8 MI VIS WITH FOG; AT 1745, THE EVERETT WX WAS PTLY OBSCD, 5000' SCAT, 1-1/2 MI VIS WITH FOG.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, circling (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2706F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2706F-1989-03-14), registration cancelled 1989-03-14, S/N 3350016 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 335
- Registry model: [Cessna 335](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-335) (registry code 2075601) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3350016
- Airframe hours: 1340
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-EB 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Charles W. Garton
- Registered owner: Bush In
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 18, 1988, 18 hours before
- Departed: KLS, KELSO, WA
- Destination: S88, ARLINGTON, WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: S88, Arlington Muni, runway 34, 5,333 × 100 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,211 total, 18 in this make and model, 1,059 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 10° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PAE, 17 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 19881202052379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881202052379A), Dec 2, 1988: Cessna 335, Arlington, WA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. On second missed approach came lower than minimums. Then turned into rising terrain, struck trees and ground.

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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