N79404

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 3, 2004, about 2153 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N79404, registered to a private individual and being operated by Rite Brothers Aviation, was destroyed on impact with trees and terrain, approximately six miles south of Port Angeles, Washington. The instrument rated commercial pilot was fatally injured and the two passengers received minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight initially took off in night visual meteorological conditions before entering instrument meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at the Fairchild International Airport (CLM), Port Angeles, Washington, approximately eight minutes earlier, and was en route to Boeing Field / King County International (BFI), Seattle, Washington. There was no fire or report of an ELT activation.

During an interview with the passengers on August 5, by investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration, and in subsequent written statements, the two passengers reported that they met the pilot, who was also a friend, at the airport about 2100 for the purpose of flying them to Boeing Field to meet friends. The passengers reported that the takeoff was to the east. After departure, they noticed the lights of Port Angeles out the left (north) side of the airplane. They reported that during the climb, the airplane gradually began a turn to the right (south), and then encountered the clouds. The front seat passenger stated that they quickly ascended to approximately 2,000 feet and that the pilot made the statement that they were going to fly above the clouds. The front seat passenger then asked the pilot what mountain was located to their right as it seemed to her that they were in a valley as she could see terrain on both sides of the airplane. The pilot responded "just a minute." The airplane then broke out of the clouds and the front seat passenger could see trees. The pilot responded by pulling up, however, the airplane immediately collided with the tree tops and began to tumble before coming to rest.

The passenger seated in the left rear reported similar circumstances adding that the weather at the airport was partly cloudy around the airport, with Port Angeles being clear. The passenger reported that, "There was no indication of mechanical failure, or physiological problem with the pilot." The passenger also reported that during the climb, she had asked the pilot how fast they were going and he responded 100 knots.

Both passengers reported that the pilot did not indicate to them the intended route of flight to Boeing Field and they did not know why the pilot turned toward the mountains after takeoff. All three were wearing headsets and were able to talk amongst themselves during the flight.

Witnesses at the Heart-of-the-Hills Campground located about half-a-mile north of the accident site reported hearing (engine noise) and seeing an airplane flying low heading to the southwest at less than 500 feet above ground level. The sound of the engine was heard during this time as the airplane continued toward the mountains. Within seconds of hearing and observing the aircraft, the sound of the impact was heard followed by the engine sound stopping. One witness reported seeing the lights on the airplane (nose, both wingtips and navigation lights). Another witness stated that, "It did not sound like it was having any engine problems. The weather - raining and low clouds."

Park service personnel reported that the Heart-of-the Hills Campground elevation is approximately 1,850 feet mean sea level. Shortly after calls were received from the witnesses reporting the accident, park service personnel began a search. The Fire and Aviation Management Officer reported that he began to hike the hill above the campground and reported that he started hitting misty fog about 500 feet above the campground around 0100 the following morning. The fog got heavier the higher he climbed to about 2,600 to 2,700 feet on the ridgeline. Unable to continue due to the dark night conditions and steep terrain, the officer discontinued his ground search about 0230.

The passengers reported that at daylight, they were able to find their cell phone among the wreckage and called 911. Search and rescue personnel located the accident site about 0800 on August 4, 2004.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

At the time of the accident, the pilot held a commercial certificate for single and multi-engine aircraft with an instrument rating. The pilot's flight logbooks indicated a total flight time in all aircraft of approximately 668 hours, with approximately 523 hours as pilot-in-command. A total flight time in the make/model aircraft involved in the accident was approximately 37 hours. The logbook indicated an instrument competency check sign-off on June 12, 2004, with six instrument landing system approaches recorded at Port Angeles. A flight review sign-off was indicated on October 16, 2002, in a Cessna 172.

The pilot held a second class medical certificate dated March 5, 2004. A restriction was listed as must wear lenses for distance - possess glasses for near vision.

The pilot was a resident of Port Angeles, and the flight logbook indicated several years of flying from the Port Angles Airport to airports in the local area, to include several flight to and from Seattle/Boeing Field.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

Seattle Automated Flight Service Station reported the METAR weather for Port Angeles Airport at 2053 as wind from 270 degrees at 5 knots. Visibility was 10 statute miles with light rain. Few clouds were reported at 2,400 feet, scattered clouds at 2,900 feet and overcast at 3,700 feet. Temperature was 16 degrees C and dewpoint was 14 degrees C. The altimeter setting was 30.01" Hg.

The METAR weather at 2153 reported the wind from 280 degrees at 4 knots. Visibility was 7 statute miles with light rain. An overcast layer was reported at 3,700 feet. Temperature and dewpoint were 14 degrees C. The altimeter setting was 30.02" Hg.

Personnel at Rite Brothers reported that the pilot obtained weather from the computer system located at their facility. Flight plan information was input, however, did not go through due to incomplete information input by the pilot.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

On site documentation of the wreckage was conducted on August 5, 2004, by investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration and Cessna Aircraft Company.

The wreckage was located in a remote, densely forested area, along terrain that sloped downward at approximately 45 degrees. Coordinates of the wreckage site were determined, with the aid of a hand held global positioning system (GPS), to be 48 degrees, 01.52 minutes North latitude, 123 degrees, 26.13 minutes West longitude, at an elevation of approximately 3,000 feet mean sea level. The terrain to the south rose to heights to about 5,000 feet.

The wreckage distribution path crossed the Angeles Lake Trail in an east-west direction. Trees to the west of the main wreckage were broken approximately 80 feet above ground level. The debris field encompassed an area approximately 310 feet long and approximately 80 feet wide, on a magnetic heading of 090 degrees.

Wreckage located at the initial impact point consisted of the outboard nine feet of the right wing, with the entire aileron attached at the hinges. A leading edge indentation, with brown transfer signatures and aft crushing, was noted 32 inches inboard from the wing tip. The aileron control cable had separated and the ends were frayed.

The left outboard wing, with the lift strut attached to the wing section attach point, was located approximately 50 feet from the initial impact point was entangled in the limbs of a tree approximately 60 feet above ground level.

The left inboard wing, flap and partial fuel tank with the vented fuel cap in place, was located approximately 100 feet from the initial impact point. The remaining section of the left fuel tank was found with a leading edge indention. Along this indentation, brown transfer signatures were noted. The left flap bellcrank and cable were attached, and the separated flight control cable ends were frayed.

The empennage, consisting of the horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, partially attached left and right elevator, and attached rudder, was located approximately 160 feet from the initial impact point. The counterweights for both elevators and rudder were present. Control cable continuity was established, from the elevator and rudder bellcranks, forward approximately three feet. The control cable ends for the elevator and the rudder were frayed.

The cabin section of the airplane came to rest topside up, on a heading of approximately 160 degrees, and approximately 225 feet from the initial impact point The cabin section included the area just forward of the front seats and extended back to the aft section of the baggage compartment. The area forward of the front seats, excluding the engine and propeller, was folded under the cabin. A six foot section of the aft fuselage was located approximately 50 feet west of the cabin section.

The engine, with propeller assembly still attached to the crankshaft, was found approximately 100 feet east of the cabin section. The propeller assembly remained attached to the crankshaft. Both propeller blades were free to move in the hub. Propeller blade 1 displayed "S" bending signatures at the tip of the blade with the blade tip torn off. Propeller blade 2 displayed aft bending about mid range with trailing edge gouges at the tip.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

An autopsy was performed on the pilot by Daniel Selove, MD, Clallam County. The pilot's cause of death was reported as, "Cerebral and cranial trauma due to blunt impact to the head."

Toxicological samples were t...