History of Flight
On June 28, 2009, about 1510 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, registration N4396R, collided with trees during a go-around at Tieton State Airport, Rimrock, Washington. The certificated private pilot and one passenger were killed; a second passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and both wings. The personal flight departed Yakima Air Terminal/McAllister Field, Yakima, Washington, at 1441. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot's wife, waiting at the turf airstrip, observed the airplane flying at tree top level. A witness at midfield saw a blue and white Cessna 172 approach from over the lake, appearing high and fast. The airplane did not touch down and continued past midfield; after reaching about three-quarters of the runway length, the engine power increased, and the airplane struck trees at the end of the runway. Another witness at the departure end saw the left wing strike a tree top, after which the airplane disappeared from view.
Personnel Information
The 37-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land rating, issued January 2008. He held a second-class medical certificate issued February 2009 with no limitations. His logbook showed 79.1 total flight hours, with 44.1 as pilot-in-command. In the 90 days preceding the accident, he flew 2 hours. He had flown to Tieton twice before but never landed there, and his logbook showed no landings on turf airstrips or in mountainous terrain.
Aircraft Information
The four-seat, high-wing, fixed-gear Cessna 172M was manufactured in 1974. It was powered by a Textron Lycoming O-320-D2J 160-hp engine, modified per RAM Aircraft LP Supplemental Type Certificate SA2375SW, with a McCauley two-blade fixed-pitch propeller. An annual inspection was completed on June 12, 2009, 24.4 flight hours prior. The engine had 396.7 hours since manufacture in November 2007; airframe had 3,880.2 hours. No outstanding squawks or anomalies were noted.
Meteorological Information
The closest aviation weather observation station, at Yakima Airport (24 miles east), reported calm winds, clear skies, temperature 82°F, dew point 37°F, altimeter 30.02 inHg at 1453. First responders at the airstrip reported a temperature of 77–80°F with steady wind about 10 mph gusting 20–30 mph.
Airport Information
Tieton Airport is a turf airstrip at elevation 2,964 feet on the eastern shore of Rimrock Lake. Runway 02 is 2,509 feet long and 140 feet wide, sloping uphill, abutted by mountains. Trees 50–75 feet tall surround the runway. The FAA Airport/Facilities Directory noted obstructions by trees and mountains. The Washington State Department of Transportation described the approach from the east as difficult due to a mountain, dropping runway, and trees in the approach path.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest in a ravine about 2,200 feet northeast of the departure end of runway 02, at elevation 2,930 feet. The first identified point of contact was a tree trunk severed at about 75 feet, 1,300 feet beyond the departure end. A second tree was severed at about 30 feet. The main cabin area rested on a heading of 350° magnetic; the tailcone separated aft of the baggage door. A child safety seat was found in the aft cabin with the surviving passenger strapped in. The left wing had four semicircular indentations; the right wing sustained crush damage. About 8 gallons of fuel drained from the left fuel tank; the right tank contained about 3 gallons. Both fuel caps were secure.
Medical and Pathological Information
Autopsy determined the pilot's cause of death as multiple internal injuries due to blunt impact. Toxicological tests for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and alcohol were negative; acetaminophen was detected in the blood at 3.995 µg/ml.
Tests and Research
Examination of the wreckage revealed the carburetor heat control in the out position, fuel mixture full forward, throttle bent down and about 1.5 inches aft of full forward, magnetos set to both, fuel primer locked forward. Flap actuator extension corresponded to fully retracted flaps; elevator trim corresponded to 5 degrees tab up. Flight control cables were continuous. The propeller blades exhibited leading edge polishing, nicks, chordwise scratching, and tip twist; one blade tip was separated. No anomalies were noted in the engine inspection.
Additional Information
Fueling records showed the airplane was filled to capacity with 8.1 gallons of 100LL aviation gasoline prior to flight. Weight and balance calculations indicated a gross weight of about 2,000 pounds. Performance charts (temperature 80°F, altitude 5,000 feet) showed a rate of climb of 530 feet per minute at 81 mph. The Cessna Owner's Manual procedures for a baulked landing (go-around) were noted: full throttle, carburetor heat cold, retract flaps to 20°, then slowly retract flaps after reaching approximately 65 mph. The FAA Airplane Flying Handbook emphasizes maintaining attitude for airspeed buildup before gaining altitude or turning during a go-around.