# NTSB SEA89FA160: Cessna 152, N49231, Snohomish, WA, August 30, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 29, 1989, 19:55 local (Aug 30, 1989, 02:55 UTC)
- Place: Snohomish, WA
- Coordinates: 47.94057, -121.999 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9406&lon=-121.9990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40934
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA89FA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40934/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89FA160

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID N49231, A CESSNA 172. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: A FLIGHT PATH DIRECTLY INTO THE SETTING SUN, AND THE LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS OF DUSK ON THE GROUND BELOW.

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N66QB, A BEECH J35, TO SEE AND AVOID THIS AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE FLIGHT PATH OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT DIRECTLY INTO THE SETTING SUN, AND THE LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS OF DUSK ON THE GROUND BELOW.

## Sequence of events

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

- Midair collision, climb
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Midair collision, cruise
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE C-152, N49231, HAD JUST DEPARTED RWY 32 AT HARVEY FIELD, AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT, ON AN INSTRUMENT TRAINING FLIGHT. RADAR DATA SHOWS THAT THE C-172 WAS CLIMBING OUT AT 700-800 FPM AT 65 KTS AND ON A TRUE HEADING OF 310 DEG. THE BE-J35, N66QB, HAD DEPARTED EARLIER FROM PAYNE FIELD AT EVERETT. RADAR DATA SHOWS THAT THE BE-J35 WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT AT 130 KTS AND ON A TRUE TRACK OF 280 DEG. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AT 1,600 FT MSL IN UNCONTROLLED AIRSPACE. THE CABIN TOP AND LEFT WING OF THE HIGH-WING C-172 DISPLAYED LINEAR SCRATCHES, GOUGES AND PAINT SMEARS WHICH MATCHED THE IMPACT DAMAGE, SCRATCHES AND GOUGES FOUND ON THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE LEFT WING OF THE LOW-WING BE-J35. OFFICIAL SUNSET WAS 1 MINUTE AFTER THE ACCIDENT; THE SUN WOULD HAVE BEEN 0.01 DEG ABOVE THE HORIZON AT THE COLLISION ALTITUDE, AND AT A TRUE BEARING OF 284.6 DEG FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE. WITNESSES REPORTED DUSK DARK LIGHT CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

THE C-172, N49231, HAD JUST DEPARTED RWY 32 AT HARVEY FIELD, AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT, ON AN INSTRUMENT TRAINING FLIGHT. RADAR DATA SHOWS THAT THE C-172 WAS CLIMBING OUT AT 700-800 FPM AT 65 KTS AND ON A TRUE HEADING OF 310 DEG. THE BE-J35, N66QB, HAD DEPARTED EARLIER FROM PAYNE FIELD AT EVERETT. RADAR DATA SHOWS THAT THE BE-J35 WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT AT 130 KTS AND ON A TRUE TRACK OF 280 DEG. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AT 1,600 FT MSL IN UNCONTROLLED AIRSPACE. THE CABIN TOP AND LEFT WING OF THE HIGH-WING C-172 DISPLAYED LINEAR SCRATCHES, GOUGES AND PAINT SMEARS WHICH MATCHED THE IMPACT DAMAGE, SCRATCHES AND GOUGES FOUND ON THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE LEFT WING OF THE LOW-WING BE-J35. OFFICIAL SUNSET WAS 1 MINUTE AFTER THE ACCIDENT; THE SUN WOULD HAVE BEEN 0.01 DEG ABOVE THE HORIZON AT THE COLLISION ALTITUDE, AND AT A TRUE BEARING OF 284.6 DEG FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE. WITNESSES REPORTED DUSK DARK LIGHT CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N49231](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49231-1994-08-03), registration cancelled 1994-08-03, S/N 15281206 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15281206
- Airframe hours: 2718
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C-M 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Snohomish Flying Service
- Registered owner: Harvey Airfield, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 1989, 19 hours before
- Departed: S43, SNOHOMISH, WA
- Airport: S43, Harvey Field

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N66QB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66QB-1990-07-20), registration cancelled 1990-07-20, S/N D5550 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH J35
- Registry model: [Beech J35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-j35) (registry code 1151522) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-5550
- Airframe hours: 1579
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-N 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard E. Kehew
- Registered owner: Richard E Kehew
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 1989
- Departed: PAE, EVERETT, WA
- Airport: S43, Harvey Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N49231; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 75 total, 75 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days
- Pilot, aircraft N66QB; age 57; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 17,300 total, 132 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PAE, 6 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890829032481A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890829032481A), Aug 29, 1989: Cessna 152, Snohomish, WA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Was oventaken while climbing and collided with N66QB that was flying level into sun. Both broke up fell to ground.
- [Accident 19890829032482A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890829032482A), Aug 29, 1989: Beech J35, Snohomish, WA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Overtook on converging course and collided with N49231. Was flying into low sun. Fell to earth exploded and burned.

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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