Accident Details
The accident involved an instrument-rated commercial pilot who departed from Gig Harbor, Washington, on a personal flight to Monroe, Washington. The airplane was topped off with fuel prior to departure. The pilot did not receive a thorough weather briefing for the intended route of flight, nor did he file a flight plan. Additionally, the airplane was not equipped for instrument flight rules (IFR).
After picking up his mother in Monroe, the pilot attempted to cross the Cascade Mountain range by flying through a mountain pass en route to a town in eastern Washington. The flight was conducted beneath low lying clouds.
Witness Observations
Numerous ground witnesses, some of whom were pilots, observed the airplane flying through the pass at an estimated altitude of 100 to 300 feet above an interstate highway. According to the witnesses, the airplane was flying just under a layer of fog and low clouds that shrouded the mountain tops. One witness reported seeing the airplane enter a cloud while turning to reverse direction.
Impact and Post-Impact
The airplane subsequently impacted a 75-foot-tall tree and came to rest in steeply rising terrain. Investigators found no evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.
Conclusion
The accident sequence involved a VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions in mountainous terrain, without a thorough weather briefing or flight plan. No mechanical issues were identified.