Piper PA-23-180 CFDFV

Summary

On 30 January 1992 at about 05:43 local time, a Piper PA-23-180 registered CFDFV, operated by Aviate Air, was involved in an accident near Gold Bar, 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

30 January 1992 at 05:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Gold Bar, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.8603, -121.6598

Aircraft

Piper PA-23-180

Registration

CFDFV

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Aviate Air

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Seattle → Lynden

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

Unk

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

SEA92FA041

2 people died.

THE PILOT BECOMING INADVERTENTLY LOST/DISORIENTED. THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-23-180 DEPARTED THE CONTROLLED FIELD FOR A FLIGHT TO A DESTINATION WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES NORTH OF THE DEPARTURE POINT. THE FLIGHT, WHICH HAD BEEN DELAYED FOR WEATHER, DEPARTED AFTER DARK. AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE, THE PLANNED ROUTE WAS FORECAST TO HAVE OCCASIONAL RAIN SHOWERS AND VARIABLE CEILINGS. AFTER DEPARTURE, THE PILOT OF THE AIRCRAFT HEADED NORTH TOWARD HIS DESTINATION, AND OPENED HIS VFR FLIGHT PLAN. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN A SLOW RIGHT TURN TO AN EASTERLY HEADING, AND CONTACTED APPROACH CONTROL FOR FLIGHT FOLLOWING. AFTER BEING GIVEN A DISCRETE TRANSPONDER CODE, THE PILOT ADVISED THE CONTROLLER THAT HE WOULD BE PROCEEDING NORTH AT WHATEVER ALTITUDE WOULD KEEP HIM OUT OF THE CLOUDS. BUT, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO FLY IN AN EASTERLY TO NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION, AND IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN RIDGE APPROXIMATELY SIX MINUTES AFTER THE INITIAL CONTACT WITH APPROACH CONTROL. PRIOR TO IMPACT THE PILOT DID NOT INDICATE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT, OR WITH NAVIGATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.