# NTSB SEA89FA156: Cessna TU206C, N21NW, Skykomish, WA, September 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1989, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Skykomish, WA
- Coordinates: 47.639728, -121.330368 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6397&lon=-121.3304&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40932
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA89FA156
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40932/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89FA156

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT INTO IMC. THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY PLAN AND PREPARE FOR THE FLIGHT AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE ABOVE THE TERRAIN FOR VMC.  FOG WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - selected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WHILE MANEUVERING IN A VALLEY THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OBSERVED FLYING THROUGH THE PASS FOLLOWING THE ROAD AT APRX 50 AGL AND JUST UNDER A LAYER OF FOG. THE AIRPLANE DOVE DOWN INTO A VALLEY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PASS THAT WAS CLEAR FOR APRX 4 MILES THEN BECAME OBSCURED AGAIN SO THAT VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE AIRPLANE HAD REVERSED COURSE AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN APRX 100 FEET BELOW THE AREA WHERE ENTRY WAS FIRST MADE. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT ALL AREAS AROUND AND ABOVE THE VALLEY WAS OBSCURED BY FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N21NW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21NW-1991-10-11), registration cancelled 1991-10-11, S/N U2061231 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA TU206C
- Registry model: [Cessna TU206C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tu206c) (registry code 2073334) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U206-1231
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-C 280 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Goble, Kelly J.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CHELAN, WA
- Destination: 560, KENMORE, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,011 total, 311 in the last 90 days, 102 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast

## 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 19890902033229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890902033229A), Sep 2, 1989: Cessna TU206C, Skykomish, WA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into side of a cloud-obscured mountain pass. Was demolished and burned. Observed at 50 feet above pass road.

## Other investigations on N21NW (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 SEA77FA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA77FA010), Dec 17, 1976: Cessna TU206C (N21NW), Battle Ground, WA, destroyed

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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