FlightFinder
Check my flight
1 fatality

Pilot Dies of Hypothermia After Crash Landing; No Survival Gear Onboard (N97843)

Bumping Lake, WA, US

On April 12, 1995, a Cessna 182Q (registration N97843) was involved in an aviation accident near Bumping Lake, WA. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Factors relating to the accident were: lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing in mountains, low ambient temperatures that contributed to hypothermia, the lack of survival equipment, an erratic ELT… This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A private pilot on a Civil Air Patrol flight died of hypothermia after crash-landing in snowy mountains. He left his survival kit at the departure airport and the ELT had a faulty tuning crystal.

Background

The pilot was a private pilot and a Civil Air Patrol (CAP) volunteer. He was on a CAP flight for proficiency training and to conduct business. The cross-country flight was planned under visual flight rules (VFR) over mountainous terrain.

Flight

Before departure, the pilot obtained a weather briefing that included information about icing conditions along the planned route. During the flight, no communication was received from the pilot other than activation of his flight plan after departing the airport.

Search

The airplane was reported overdue. Search efforts were hampered due to instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions and snow. No transponder code was issued to the airplane, and no discrete radar data was located in stored radar data to assist in locating the airplane. By 0900 on April 15, 1995, analysis of primary target radar returns helped locate the accident airplane. Additionally, only an intermittent signal was transmitted from the airplane's emergency locator transmitter (ELT).

Wreckage

The wreckage was located three days later. The airplane had crash-landed on snow-covered mountainous terrain. A note found in the wreckage indicated that the engine lost power. After recovery, the engine operated normally.

Investigation

Investigation revealed that the pilot initially survived the accident but subsequently succumbed to hypothermia. He was wearing a flight suit over dress clothes, a flight jacket, and dress shoes. No survival equipment was required to be carried in the airplane. The pilot had a personal survival kit but had left it in his vehicle at the departure airport. The pilot had received training in survival skills and was a CAP survival skills instructor.

The transponder switch was found in the "standby" position. Inspection of the ELT revealed a faulty tuning crystal.

Findings

  • Engine lost power per note, but operated normally after recovery.
  • Transponder switch in standby position.
  • ELT had faulty tuning crystal.
  • Pilot left personal survival kit at departure airport.
  • No survival equipment required on board.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 12 Apr 1995 Cessna 182Q accident near Bumping Lake, WA?

A private pilot on a Civil Air Patrol flight died of hypothermia after crash-landing in snowy mountains. He left his survival kit at the departure airport and the ELT had a faulty tuning crystal.

Were there any fatalities in the 12 Apr 1995 Cessna 182Q accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 12 Apr 1995 involved a Cessna 182Q, registration N97843, at Bumping Lake, WA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Factors relating to the accident were: lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing in mountains, low ambient temperatures that contributed to hypothermia, the lack of survival equipment, an erratic ELT signal due to a faulty tuning crystal, and the lack of discrete…

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001207X03205. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.