- Date
- December 1, 1997, 14:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place
- Kettle Falls, WA
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1054JAero Commander 112
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 28, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19971201035879A
- Case key
- 42740
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 pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering. Factors include the physiological impairment of the pilot's judgement due to alcohol.
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
According to a FAA aviation safety inspector, witnesses observed the airplane flying 'low' over Lake Roosevelt. The witnesses observed the left wing strike the surface of the lake. The airplane then broke apart and sank in about 40 feet of water. The witnesses stated that there was no smoke or fire coming from the airplane at the time of the accident, and that there were no perceived problems with the engine. FAA inspectors found no evidence of bird strikes, nor of mechanical deficiencies prior to impact. Toxicological testing revealed that a high level of ethanol was detected in bodily fluids.
Factual narrative
On December 1, 1997, about 1445 Pacific standard time, N1054J, an Aero Commander 112 airplane, operated by the owner/pilot, collided with water while maneuvering and was destroyed near Kettle Falls, Washington. The private pilot and his two passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The flight departed from Colville, Washington, about 1430 and was en route to Kent, Washington.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector from Spokane, Washington, witnesses observed the airplane flying "low" over Lake Roosevelt. The lake is formed by the Columbia River near a dam, and is located about 10 miles northwest of the departure airport. The witnesses observed the left wing strike the surface of the lake. The airplane then broke apart and sank in about 40 feet of water. The witnesses stated that there was no smoke or fire coming from the airplane at the time of the accident, and that there were no perceived problems with the engine. FAA inspectors found no evidence of bird strikes, nor mechanical deficiencies prior to impact. The ELT was found to have its switch in the off position.
Toxicological testing revealed that ethanol was detected in bodily fluids. An autopsy was performed by Dr. George R. Lindholm at Holy Family Hospital, Spokane, Washington.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1054J
- Reported as
- Aero Commander 112
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 54
- Airframe hours
- 1,682
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-C1D6, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Donley, Richard W
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 14, 1996 · 67 hours before
- Departed
- 63S · Colville, WA
- Destination
- Kent, WA
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
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 160 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CQV
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.