NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 21, 2004, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N7562Q, was destroyed during a collision with trees and the resulting post impact fire about 5 miles south of Toutle, WA. The aircraft was operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The private pilot and one passenger received serious injuries. The second passenger received fatal injuries. The flight originated from McMinnville, Oregon, shortly after 1500 with a planned destination of Everett, Washington. No flight plan was filed for the flight.

The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Department reported that at 1822, on August 21, a Lewis County 911 dispatcher received a call from the pilot who reported the accident. Due to poor cell phone contact, the call was lost. Lewis county began a search in an attempt to located the accident site. On August 22, about 0940, the wreckage was located by a search and rescue aircraft.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that weather information was attained before and during the flight. The cruising altitude was approximately 2,500 feet mean sea level. The pilot stated that at a point northeast of Longview, Washington, the ceiling and forward visibility deteriorated enough to warrant turning around and diverting to Kelso/Longview for landing. While attempting to reach the airport, the weather conditions continued to deteriorate and the pilot made a decision to perform an emergency landing to avoid flight into possible instrument meteorological conditions and avoid contact with the surrounding rising terrain. The pilot chose to make a landing next to a clear cut area and land in immature trees adjacent to the clear cut area. The pilot stated that during the collision sequence, the wings were separated. The fuselage came to rest upright with few injuries to the occupants. It was during the subsequent post-crash fire which caused the severest injuries to the occupants. The pilot reported no mechanical failure or malfunction with the aircraft at the time of the accident

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

At the time of the accident, the pilot held a private pilot certificate for single-engine land operations. The pilot reported a total flight time of 1,843 hours in all aircraft. A total of 733 hours was reported in the make/model aircraft involved in the accident.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1528, the pilot called Seattle Flight Watch, reporting that he was over Portland, Oregon, and requested the weather en route to Paine Field, Everett, Washington. The specialist advised the pilot of a front moving through the area and he was given the AIRMETS for instrument flight rule conditions, mountain obscuration, turbulence and icing along the route. The pilot was given the current and forecasted conditions for the route and advised that visual flight rules flight was not recommended.

At 1553, the pilot contacted Seattle Flight Watch, reporting that he was over Kelso, Washington, and requested the tops of the overcast. The specialist reported to the pilot that there were no reports of the cloud tops, however he gave the pilot a pilot report from a Piper Malibu pilot about one hour prior who reported light rime icing at 15,500 feet about 20 nautical miles south of Olympia, Washington.

The nearest weather reporting facility to the accident site was located at the Kelso/Longview Airport, Kelso, Washington, approximately 13 nautical miles to the southwest. At 1555, the airport facility was reporting scattered clouds at 1,600 feet and overcast at 2,500 feet. Visibility was 1.5 miles with a wind from 230 degrees at seven knots. The temperature was 19 degrees C, and the dew point was 18 degrees C. The altimeter setting was 29.83" Hg.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The wreckage was located among the trees at 46 degrees 15.60 minutes north latitude, 122 degrees 39.17 minutes west longitude at an elevation of 1,150 feet mean sea level. There were several damaged trees in the area. Near the base of the damaged trees were portions of the right wing. There were additional portions of aircraft wreckage scattered on a magnetic heading of about 030 degrees for about 140 feet. Both wings of the aircraft had substantial leading edge damage and were separated from the aircraft. The cockpit area of the aircraft was extensively burned.

ADDITIONAL DATA/INFORMATION

The wreckage was recovered from the accident site on August 28, 2004, and released to personnel from AvTech Services, Kent, Washington. The wreckage was transported to Maple Valley, Washington.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's continued flight into known adverse weather conditions. Inadequate preflight planning/preparation, trees, a low ceiling and no suitable terrain available for the landing were factors.