Flight Details
A non-instrument rated pilot and two passengers departed Arlington, Washington, in a Cessna 180F for a flight across the Cascade Mountains to Spokane, Washington. No flight plan had been filed. Weather at the departure airport was reported as 2,000-foot broken ceilings with lowering ceilings to the east.
Accident Sequence
Raw radar data showed the aircraft tracking east-southeast. The last radar target was recorded at 1410:01, at an estimated elevation of 5,200 feet and approximately 10 nautical miles east-southeast of the crash site. A logger located approximately one nautical mile north-northeast of the crash site at the time of the accident reported hearing an aircraft coming from the northwest circling back to the southwest, followed by a sound described as a 'backfire' or 'rifle-shot' like noise, then silence.
Wreckage and Environment
The aircraft impacted trees and +35 degree upsloping terrain in a wings level attitude. The wreckage distribution was towards the north-northwest (299 degrees magnetic) at an elevation of approximately 3,850 feet MSL. Both propeller blade tips were separated from their respective propeller blades, and both blades displayed aftward bending and twisting deformation. Both wings separated at the fuselage wing root area.
The logger reported poor visibility (overcast) with extremely cloudy/foggy conditions, and heavy clouds/fog at elevations of 2,400 to 3,500 feet. He also reported that the tops of the ridges were fogged in from his observation point.