# NTSB SEA91FA144: Piper PA-28-180, N4924L, Mullan, ID, October 14, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 14, 1990, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Mullan, ID
- Coordinates: 47.459983, -115.739463 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4600&lon=-115.7395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 10, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41324
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA91FA144
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41324/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91FA144

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC).  THE ADVERSE WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS WERE RELATED FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A VFR FLIGHT FROM BOZEMAN, MT, TO SPOKANE, WA.  THE LAST COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE AIRCRAFT WERE WHEN IT CROSSED MISSOULA, MT.  THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND LATER NEAR THE SUMMIT OF LOST TRAIL PASS, NEAR MULLAN, ID.  MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE REPORTED OBSCURED DURING THE APPROXIMATE TIME FRAME THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE VICINITY.  NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT/ENGINE WAS REPORTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4924L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4924L-1992-01-23), registration cancelled 1992-01-23, S/N 284290 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-4290
- Airframe hours: 3143
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Allen D. Harris, Jr.
- Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 1990, 73 hours before
- Departed: BZN, BOZEMAN, MT
- Destination: SFF, SPOKANE, WA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 524 total, 250 in this make and model, 479 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: S06

## 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 19901014065669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901014065669A), Oct 14, 1990: Piper PA28180, Mullan, ID, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck trees in cloud obscured pass. Drizzle,fog reported in area,aircraft destroyed, found 8 months later.

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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