Cessna 185 accident near Wilbur, WA
On May 28, 2007, a Cessna 185 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Wilbur, WA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 28, 2007
- Place
- Wilbur, WA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 47.828°N, 118.666°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070612X00714
Official records · SEA07FA134
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HHISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 28, 2007, approximately 1515 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 185, N9434N collided with the terrain about four miles north of Wilbur, Washington. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was killed, and the airplane, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The local 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions, is believed to have departed the pilot's private airstrip less than one minute prior to the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The ELT was activated by the impact sequence, and the transmissions of the ELT were what lead to the discovery of the wreckage about four hours after the accident. According to family members, the pilot and his wife returned from a two-day camping/vacation trip on the morning of the accident. Then, according his wife, some time after 1430, the pilot said that he was going to go fly around the local area for a while. Although no one reported seeing the actual takeoff from the private airstrip, the pilot's wife said that she thought it was a little after 1510 when she heard the sound of the aircraft's engine at the west end of the strip (near the house). There were no reports of anyone seeing the aircraft after takeoff, and no reports of anyone hearing or seeing the accident sequence. Some time around 1700, Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signals were detected by a satellite, and a search for an active ELT in the general area was initiated. Around 1930, the wreckage was spotted from the air by the pilot of
Probable cause
In-flight collision with terrain shortly after takeoff for undetermined reasons.
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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.
