Cessna 185A N714

Summary

On 23 October 1997 at about 04:35 local time, a Cessna 185A registered N714, operated by Roger C. Snyder, was involved in an accident near Damascus, Oregon, 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

23 October 1997 at 04:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Damascus, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

45.4794, -122.5103

Aircraft

Cessna 185A

Registration

N714

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Roger C. Snyder

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Placerville → Kent

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

Unk

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

SEA98LA007

2 people died.

failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from terrain. Factors relating to the accident included: darkness, and hilly/mountainous terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to radar data, the airplane, which had been acquired earlier that day by the pilot, descended slowly from level flight at 1200 feet MSL to 800 feet MSL before disappearing from radar. Wreckage was located in the immediate vicinity of the last radar target. Witnesses reported a loss of electrical power in their homes, followed by the sound of an increase in engine power from the airplane immediately before final impact. The crash occurred in dark night conditions on rising terrain. The airplane's heading was direct toward an airport with an operating control tower; an attempt had been made to initiate radio contact. Weather at nearby reporting stations was marginal for VFR flight operations. The airplane's equipment list noted navigational equipment sufficient for a non-precision instrument approach. No pre-crash mechanical deficiencies were noted during the investigation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.