# NTSB SEA90FA028: Cessna 210-5 (205), Rainier, WA, December 8, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 7, 1989, 19:47 local (Dec 8, 1989, 03:47 UTC)
- Place: Rainier, WA
- Coordinates: 46.869045, -122.659545 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8690&lon=-122.6595&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41095
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA90FA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41095/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90FA028

## Probable cause

CONTINUED FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE FROM WOODED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  DARKNESS AND THE WEATHER/TERRAIN CONDITIONS.

## 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)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - object - tree(s)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING A WX BRIEFING, THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED CANADIAN PLT WAS ADVISED THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED.  HOWEVER, HE DEPARTED WITH A VFR FLT PLAN & RCVD VFR FLT FOLLOWING FROM ATC.  WHILE CRUISING AT NIGHT AT 3000 FT MSL, HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST & TO RESUME HIS OWN NAVIGATION.  A FREQ CHANGE WAS APPROVED & NO THERE WAS NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION WITH THE ACFT.  SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.  EVIDENCE OF TREE CONTACT WAS FOUND AT AN ELEVATION OF 2800 FT.  THE MAIN WRECHAGE CAME TO REST ON LOWER TERRAIN ABOUT 1500 FT BEYOND & 1000 FT BELOW THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT.  ABOUT 11 MI WEST AT OLYMPIA (ELEV 206 FT), THE 1950 PST WX WAS IN PART: 3000 FT OVC, VIS 5 MI, WIND FM 200 DEG AT 20 KTS.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CFOXF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210-5 (205) (210-5 (205)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 205-0355
- Airframe hours: 5978
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-D 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Thy Olde Rent-A-Plane Co
- Registered owner: Charles Slater
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 17, 1989, 12 hours before
- Departed: BLI, BELLINGHAM, WA
- Destination: PDX, PORTLAND, OR
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; foreign, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 157 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 10 knots
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: OLM, 11 nm away

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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