Cessna 172N accident near Prindle, WA
On June 4, 1998, a Cessna 172N (airplane) was involved in an accident near Prindle, WA. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 4, 1998
- Place
- Prindle, WA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 45.699°N, 121.719°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10413
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 4, 1998, at 0223 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N6234D, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, was destroyed following an in-flight loss of control and subsequent uncontrolled descent and collision into terrain approximately 11 minutes after takeoff from the Troutdale airport, Troutdale, Oregon. The pilot and two passengers sustained fatal injuries. There was no fire. Variable meteorological dark night conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been activated. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and was destined for Hermiston, Oregon. There were no known witnesses who saw the aircraft depart the Troutdale airport, and the airport's air traffic control tower was closed at the time. There were no eye-witnesses to the accident, however, an ear-witness, who was located near the accident site reported that "approx(imately) 2:00 to 2:15 this morning I heard the sound of a small plane winding out at a distance. I heard the sound twice within a matter of seconds - the second sound was followed by the sound of an impact. It sounded to me as if the sounds came from a southerly direction from my home" (refer to ATTACHMENT S-I). Radar data from the Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) recorded a code 1200 mode "C" transponder target at 0212:39 at 800 feet above mean sea level (MSL) less than a mile southwest of the Troutdale airport. A series of targets were recorded progressing (in time) northeast to the Columbia River and then along the river to the east tip of Reed Island. The tr
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during attempted flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors contributing to the accident were clouds, dark night conditions, spatial disorientation, and drug impairment.
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Browse: Washington · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
