Cessna 172M CFZEY

Summary

On 16 September 1998 at about 04:30 local time, a Cessna 172M registered CFZEY, operated by Aspen Air Ltd, was involved in an accident near Concrete, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 September 1998 at 04:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Concrete, Washington, United States

Coordinates

48.5594, -121.7694

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

CFZEY

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Aspen Air Ltd

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Langley → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

SEA98FA179

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control for undetermined reasons. Night conditions were a factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A flight instructor, who checked the airplane out to the pilot for the night flight, reported that the pilot stated that he was going to stay in the local area (Canada) for a sight-seeing flight with a friend. When the aircraft did not return at the proposed time, a search was initiated. The aircraft was found the next morning, 17 miles south of the Canadian/U.S. border in a deep, narrow canyon located in the mountains of a wilderness area. The wreckage was found partially submerged in a river. The wreckage was positioned in a nearly vertical nose down attitude. Rearward crushing was noted to the entire length of the leading edges of both wings. During the post-accident investigation, no evidence was found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.