Cessna 180F accident near Gold Bar, WA
On July 8, 2000, a Cessna 180F (airplane) was involved in an accident near Gold Bar, WA. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 8, 2000
- Place
- Gold Bar, WA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180F · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 47.860°N, 121.659°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X21597
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 8, 2000, approximately 1415 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180F, N37GC, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, was destroyed during collision with trees and steeply upsloping terrain while in cruise flight approximately 3.5 nautical miles south of Gold Bar, Washington. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured and a post-crash fire consumed a portion of the aircraft. Meteorological conditions at the accident site were unknown and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Arlington, Washington, approximately 1341 local time. The flight was initially destined across the Cascade Mountains for Spokane (Felts Field), Washington. An acquaintance of the pilot, who flew from Spokane (Felts Field) to Arlington, in a Beechcraft, N419J, on the afternoon of July 7th, reported observing N37GC arriving at Arlington about 25 minutes later. The pilots of both aircraft socialized the evening of the 7th. On the following day both pilots met at the temporary flight service station. Records maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed that the pilot of the Cessna received a weather briefing at 1122 hours for a flight from Arlington to Spokane (refer to ATTACHMENT AT-I). No flight plan was filed. The Cessna departed immediately before the Beechcraft. The pilot of the Beechcraft reported that the Cessna turned to an easterly heading after departing from runway 34. He also expected the Cessna to eventually turn southbound (downwind) but the aircraft continued eastbo
Probable cause
The non-instrument rated pilot's attempted VFR flight in instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing factors were mountainous terrain and cloud, low ceiling and obscuration conditions.
More accidents in WA
- Dehavilland DHC-3, Sep 4, 2022
- Cessna 208B, Oct 8, 2007
- Cessna 172P, Dec 7, 1991
- Piper PA-32-260, Jul 29, 2001
- Beech A60, Nov 21, 1992
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.
