Cessna 172N N6468D

Summary

On 5 May 1998 at about 20:00 local time, a Cessna 172N registered N6468D, operated by Steven W. Klug, was involved in an accident near Enumclaw, Washington, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 May 1998 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Enumclaw, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.1001, -121.6001

Aircraft

Cessna 172N

Registration

N6468D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Steven W. Klug

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cle Elum → Fall City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA98LA070

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC conditions and his failure to maintain clearance from terrain. Clouds and mountainous terrain were a factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while en route through a mountain pass, the ceiling was higher than what was reported. The pilot continued the flight through the pass, however, the ceiling began to lower and he opted to reverse direction. The pilot made a 180 degree turn to the left, and at the completion of the turn, noted that the clouds had closed in behind him. The pilot stated that he started another 180 degree turn to the right, and during this turn, entered the clouds. The pilot stated that he was about 150 degrees into the second turn when he popped out of the clouds and was within seconds of impacting a steep mountain side. The pilot stated that there was not sufficient room to avoid a collision, and leveled the wings, pulled the throttle off to stall the airplane as if landing, and aim the nose of the airplane between two trees for the collision. The pilot stated that both wings were bent aft from the impact with the trees, however, the collision with the ground was minor. At the time of the accident, the weather reporting facility reported a 300 foot overcast ceiling. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.