Bellanca 14-19-3 N8807R

Summary

On 8 January 1983 at about 20:30 local time, a Bellanca 14-19-3 registered N8807R was involved in an accident near Goldendale, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 January 1983 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Goldendale, Washington, United States

Coordinates

46.0411, -120.8497

Aircraft

Bellanca 14-19-3

Registration

N8807R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Yakima → Long Beach

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA83LA209

2 people died.

The pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight planning, which resulted in flight into adverse weather conditions and clearance from trees not maintained. Factors contributing to the accident included the clouds, low ceilings, and turbulence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aircraft failed to arrive at its destination and was declared missing on January 10, 1983. Search and rescue efforts along the route of flight were suspended on January 15, 1983. An area forecast indicated a series of fronts moving across the Pacific Northwest. The forecast indicated ceilings below 1,000 feet and visibility below 3 miles in fog. Additionally, the forecast for Oregon and Washington east of the Cascade mountain range revealed thin broken to overcast clouds from 5,000 to 7,000 feet, occasional visibility between 3 and 5 statute miles in light rain and fog, and mountains occasionally obscured in clouds and precipitation. The outlook was for marginal visual flight rule conditions. There was no record of the pilot requesting a weather briefing, but prior to his departure air traffic control advised the pilot that SIGMETS for severe turbulence and icing in clouds were in effect along the route of flight. Air traffic control subsequently recommended that the pilot contact Seattle Flight Watch for detailed information; there is no record of the pilot contacting Seattle Flight Watch. Subsequent to departure communications with Yakima tower, there was no further contact with the accident airplane. On August 30, 2005, the airplane wreckage was located approximately 15 nautical miles north-northwest of Goldendale, Oregon. The first impact point was evidenced by damage to the top of a tree grove prior to the main wreckage impact area. The energy path extended approximately 340 feet on a magnetic heading of 138 degrees. Photographs revealed that the airplane was destroyed. The cockpit was unrecognizable, with two sections of a seat located 75 feet from the main wreckage area. The engine came to rest in an upright position separated from the airframe and both propeller blades remained attached to the propeller flange. There was no postcrash fire and no planned recovery of the wreckage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.