CESSNA 182 near Fall City, WA — 2014-07-08

Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to depart in low-ceiling conditions and his continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot intended to reposition the airplane for maintenance to an airport about 23 nautical miles north-northwest of the departure airport. Low ceilings and fog were predominant in the area, with treetops on the adjacent golf course to the west obscured by fog. At the time of departure, the ceiling at the airport was most likely low, but the pilot elected to depart. Recovered GPS data revealed that, immediately after taking off to the west, the pilot turned to the north toward rising terrain. The pilot then, most likely after encountering a low ceiling, started a left turn, during which the airplane ascended to an altitude of about 515 ft. About 16 seconds after starting the left turn, the airplane had descended to an altitude of about 217 feet and was heading south. The airplane then began to climb, and, 10 seconds later, the airplane had reached an altitude of 577 ft; it then began to descend and reached an altitude of 404 ft 7 seconds later, still on a southerly heading. The descent continued, and, 3 seconds later, the last recorded data point revealed that the airplane was at an altitude of 135 ft and a groundspeed of 124 knots on a southwesterly heading. The airplane subsequently impacted a tree on the golf course, traveled about 200 feet on a westerly heading before impacting a second tree, and came to rest about 60 feet west of the second tree in the middle of a fairway. Multiple witnesses on the golf course reported that the airplane was flying low on a southerly heading and that they heard the engine surge just before impact. All airplane components necessary for flight were accounted for at the accident site. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot likely took off and then realized that the ceiling was too low and the fog too dense for safe flight and attempted to return to the airport. The engine surge likely occurred as the pilot saw the tree just before impact.

Analysis

Primary failure mode

VFR into IMC

First missed decision gate

Pilot could have canceled the flight due to fog conditions before takeoff.

NTSB coding

• VFR encounter with IMC · Initial climb
• Decision Making / Judgment

Evidence available

• Photos
• 13 docket documents

Docket documents13

• Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15form
• Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigationinterview
• Witness Statementsinterview
• Accident Site Mapsother
• Meteorologyother
• Continental Motors Engine Field Inspector Report (89 Embedded Images)photos
• Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report (9 Embedded Images)photos
• Photo Array of Accident Sitephotos
• Summary of Airplane Examination (3 Embedded Images)photos
• Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report - Attachment 1 - Tabular Data (Garmin 296)report
• Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report - Attachment 2 - Tabular Data (JPI EDM-700)report
• Medical Factual Reportreport
• Toxicological Reportreport

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