Long Lancair ES accident near Cliffdell, WA
On August 1, 2008, a Long Lancair ES (airplane) was involved in an accident near Cliffdell, WA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 1, 2008
- Place
- Cliffdell, WA
- Aircraft
- Long Lancair ES · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 47.052°N, 121.226°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080811X01208
Official records · LAX08LA253
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Transcript of Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 1, 2008, about 1433 Pacific daylight time (PDT), an amateur built experimental category, Long Lancair ES, N45EL, disappeared from radar and radio contact was lost 40 miles northwest of Yakima, Washington. The airplane wreckage was located 9 miles northwest of Cliffdell, Washington. The private pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. The pilot and single passenger were killed, and the airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Ketchikan, Alaska, about 0957 Alaska daylight time (ADT). The pilot and his passenger were traveling from Ketchikan to Mountain Home, Idaho. A review of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control documents revealed that the pilot received a standard weather brief from the Juneau Automated Flight Service Station at 0608 ADT, and filed an IFR flight plan. At 0954 ADT, N45EL was released for departure. While en route the pilot received normal services from Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and Seattle Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility (TRACON). At 1422 PDT, the pilot checked in with Seattle ARTCC at 11,000 feet mean sea level (msl) with a clearance to proceed direct to Yakima. At 1432 PDT, the pilot confirmed his altimeter setting, 29.87, which was the pilot's last transmission. At 1433 PDT, an altitude deviation to 9,700 feet was noted by the controller and then radar and radio contact were lost. Repeated attempts
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while in cruise flight due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was turbulence and clouds.
More accidents in WA
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Browse: Washington
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
