Cessna 172 C-FISS

Summary

On 20 February 2002 at about 16:00 local time, a Cessna 172 registered C-FISS was involved in an accident near Concrete, 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

20 February 2002 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Concrete, Washington, United States

Coordinates

48.5297, -121.6917

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

C-FISS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Langley, Bc → Chilliwak, Bc

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA02LA042

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance/altitude while reversing course and turning towards rising, tree covered terrain in downdraft conditions. Contributing factors were trees, rising terrain, downdrafts and the pilot's in-flight decision to turn towards rather than away from steeper terrain during his course reversal.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was following the Skagit River eastbound approximately 1500-1800 feet above sea level when he observed rain showers ahead and he decided to execute a course reversal. He initiated a left turn at 75 miles per hour utilizing two "notches" (20 degrees) of flaps and noted a sink rate. He then applied full power and raised the flaps to one "notch" (10 degrees) during which the sink rate continued. The pilot reported that it "felt like the aircraft was getting sucked down." As the aircraft continued in its left turn towards the rising, tree covered hillside, the pilot executed a controlled crash into the trees and terrain. A topographic chart of the vicinity of the accident showed that the terrain gradient was considerably shallower to the south, and that the left turn initiated by the pilot placed the aircraft flying towards higher gradient terrain. The pilot reported that he had been using carburetor heat throughout the flight and that the aircraft's engine had been performing as expected.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.