Cessna 172 N835T

Summary

On 31 July 1998 at about 19:00 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N835T, operated by Bradly C. Kirkpatrick, was involved in an accident near Baker City, Oregon, United States. 3 people were on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

31 July 1998 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Baker City, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

44.8298, -117.7608

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N835T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Bradly C. Kirkpatrick

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Troutdale → Mountain Home

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA98LA154

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance and inadequate in-flight planning/decision. Contributing to the accident was mountain obscuration.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The passenger reported that as the flight continued, the clouds and fog increased around the aircraft. The passenger recalls that the pilot made altitude and heading changes to remain clear of the clouds. The passenger stated that when the accident occurred, she had her head down and eyes closed because she was airsick. The passenger stated that the engine sound never changed up to the time of the accident. Documentation of the accident site indicates that the aircraft collided with tree tops in steep mountainous terrain, and a level attitude, before coming to rest at the base of a tree stump. Wreckage was distributed along the length of the path for about 150 feet. Prior to departure, the pilot obtained a weather briefing that forecasted isolated thunderstorm activity, mountain obscuration and multiple layers of scattered and broken clouds. The pilot did not possess an instrument rating.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.