- Date
- December 7, 1991, 13:07 local (21:07 UTC)
- Place
- Snohomish, WA
- Injuries
- 7 fatal
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N65831Cessna 172PCFAECPiper PA-23-250
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 27, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911207055012A
- Case key
- 41565
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
A visual lookout was not maintained.
Visual lookout was not maintained.
Analysis
During a VFR cross country flight on a VFR flight plan from boundary bay, Canada, to seattle, Washington, the canadian registered Piper PA-23-250 was involved in a mid-air collision with a Cessna 172 that was operating on an IFR flight plan, practicing approaches at everett, Washington. The collision occurred at 2,200 feet in VMC. The Cessna was performing a missed approach procedure and had been instructed to turn to 70 degrees and maintain 2,000 feet. The canadian airplane was travelling in a southerly direction operating below an overcast layer in VMC. The canadian airplane was not in communication with ATC at the time. The Cessna was in communication with seattle ARTCC and was awaiting further instructions when the collision occurred. Post-crash toxicological testing revealed that the pilot tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol in blood and thc in blood and urine.
The flight was being conducted for the purpose of practice instrument approaches on a local IFR flight. The flight reported the missed approach to the controller and was instructed to turn to 70 degrees and climb and maintain 2,000 feet. The pilot responded to the instructions. When approximately five miles east of the airport, the flight was involved in a mid-air collision at 2,200 feet in VMC with a VFR aircraft. The VFR aircraft was in cruise flight and flying in a southerly direction on a VFR flight plan. The IFR aircraft was level at 2,200 feet. The VFR flight was not in communications with air traffic control.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N65831
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17275902
- Airframe hours
- 4,215
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Arlington Aeronautical
- Registered owner
- Arlington Aeronautical
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 9, 1991 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- S88 · Arlington, WA
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- CFAEC
- Reported as
- Piper PA-23-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 273679
- Airframe hours
- 4,440
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-C4B5, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Perez, Raphael
- Registered owner
- Slater, Charles
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 9, 1991 · 35 hours before
- Departed
- CZBB · Delta
- Destination
- BFI · Seattle, WA
- Flight plan
- VFR
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N65831
- Age
- 30
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 847 total · 561 in this make and model · 715 as pilot in command · 272 in the last 90 days · 73 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft 2
- Age
- 25
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 200 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PAE, 5 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.