# NTSB SEA90FA133: Cessna 172M, N73422, Snoqualmie, WA, November 8, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 8, 1989, 08:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Snoqualmie, WA
- Coordinates: 47.530147, -121.800071 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5301&lon=-121.8001&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41118
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA90FA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41118/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90FA133

## Probable cause

INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND POOR WEATHER EVALUATION BY THE PILOT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF ON AN IFR FLIGHT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB TO THE ASSIGNED ALTITUDE DUE TO THE ACCUMULATION OF ICE. THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO RETURN TO THE ORIGINATING ARPT. EN ROUTE, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED BELOW THE MDA IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. WITH THE AID OF ANOTHER AIRPLANE TO RELAY MESSAGES, THE PLT WAS GIVEN VECTORS IN THE DIRECTION TO LOWER TERRAIN. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN IMC WHEN COMMUNICATION WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND 8 MONTHS LATER. DURING THE INVESTIGATION THERE WERE NO NOTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73422](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73422-1990-01-26), registration cancelled 1990-01-26, S/N 17267446 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17267446
- Airframe hours: 2339
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Evergreen Flying Club, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 21, 1989, 161 hours before
- Departed: RNT, RENTON, WA
- Destination: MWH, MOSES LAKE, WA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,856 total, 141 in this make and model, 3,815 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SEA, 29 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 19891108066089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891108066089A), Nov 8, 1989: Cessna 172M, Snoqualmie, WA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Unable to sustain IFR flight due to airframe icing. Crashed into trees on mountainside. Pilot survived,became lost.

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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