Cessna 152 N855DA

Summary

On 6 May 1995 at about 18:45 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N855DA was involved in an accident near Snoqualmie Pass, 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

6 May 1995 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.4209, -121.3696

Aircraft

Cessna 152

Registration

N855DA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Monroe → Tonasket

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA95FA093

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH THE TERRAIN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE INSTRUMENT-RATED COMMERCIAL PILOT DEPARTED FROM GIG HARBOR, WASHINGTON, ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT TO MONROE, WASHINGTON. THE AIRPLANE WAS TOPPED OFF WITH FUEL. THE PILOT DID NOT RECEIVE A THOROUGH WEATHER BRIEFING FOR HIS INTENDED ROUTE OF FLIGHT, OR FILE A FLIGHT PLAN. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT IFR EQUIPPED. AFTER PICKING UP HIS MOTHER AT MONROE, WASHINGTON, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CROSS THROUGH THE CASCADE MOUNTAIN RANGE UNDERNEATH LOW LYING CLOUDS ALONG A MOUNTAIN PASS EN ROUTE TO A TOWN IN EASTERN WASHINGTON. NUMEROUS GROUND WITNESSES, SOME WHO WERE PILOTS, OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE FLYING THROUGH THE PASS ABOUT 100 TO 300 FEET ABOVE AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING JUST UNDER A LAYER OF FOG AND LOW CLOUDS, WHICH SHROUDED THE MOUNTAIN TOPS. ONE WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE ENTER A CLOUD WHILE TURNING TO REVERSE DIRECTION. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A 75-FOOT-TALL TREE AND CAME TO REST IN STEEPLY RISING TERRAIN. NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WAS FOUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.