# NTSB SEA92FA026: Cessna 172P, N65831, Snohomish, WA, December 7, 1991 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: December 7, 1991, 13:07 local (21:07 UTC) - Place: Snohomish, WA - Coordinates: 47.940319, -122.000251 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9403&lon=-122.0003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 7 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 27, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41565 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92FA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41565/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92FA026 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) A VISUAL LOOKOUT WAS NOT MAINTAINED. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) VISUAL LOOKOUT WAS NOT MAINTAINED. ## Analysis (aircraft 2) 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. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - normal - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Midair collision, cruise - normal - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - impairment(drugs), pilot in command ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N65831](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65831-1998-01-13), registration cancelled 1998-01-13, S/N 17275902 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17275902 - Airframe hours: 4215 - Engines: 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 ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: CFAEC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 273679 - Airframe hours: 4440 - Engines: 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 As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N65831; age 30; 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 - Pilot, aircraft 2; age 25; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19911207055012A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911207055012A), Dec 7, 1991: Cessna 172P, Snohomish, WA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. While IFR collided with VFR cfaec not detected by ATC. Impact destroyed aircraft. Both near cloud base. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.