- Date
- November 12, 1995, 10:55 local (18:55 UTC)
- Place
- Douglas, WA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3900JCessna 150G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 29, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951112036389A
- Case key
- 42307
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
The pilot fell asleep.
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.
Analysis
The airplane collided with open terrain in a level attitude during a cross-country flight. The pilot stated that he believes that he fell asleep. He also stated that he was in bed for 12 hours the night before, and got at least 7 hours sleep.
Factual narrative
On November 12, 1995, approximately 1055 Pacific standard time (PST), a Cessna 150G, N3900J, impacted the terrain during cruise flight about two miles east of Douglas, Washington. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Deer Park, Washington, at 0945, was en route to Cashmere, Washington. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was being operated in visual meteorological conditions on a VFR flight plan. The ELT, which was activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that he apparently fell asleep while in cruise flight. The pilot stated that he remembers trying to make contact with Seattle Flight Service Station to cancel his flight plan and divert to Waterville, Washington. He stated that he does not recall all of the events, but felt that there was no reason to land at Waterville, unless it was to rest.
The deputy from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office who was the first to arrive at the accident site, reported that the pilot stated that he "...thinks he just fell asleep." The deputy documented the accident site, and reported that the ground impact with the snow-covered wheat field indicated that the airplane was traveling in a westerly direction, and collided with the terrain in a level attitude. At the beginning of the wreckage distribution path, the deputy found three landing-gear marks indicating that all the gear touched down in the same area. A trail continued from the initial touchdown point until the nose gear sheared off and the airplane nosed over. The total wreckage distribution path measured 201 feet.
According to the FAA inspectors who responded to the accident, there was no evidence of carbon monoxide leaking into the cockpit of the aircraft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3900J
- Reported as
- Cessna 150G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15065200
- Airframe hours
- 7,340
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lietz, Verne L.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 14, 1995 · 59 hours before
- Departed
- 07S · Deer Park, WA
- Destination
- 8S2 · Cashmere, WA
- Flight plan
- VFR
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.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 72
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,764 total · 129 in this make and model · 450 as pilot in command · 53 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EAT, 15 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.