SEA85LA224

Factual narrative

ACFT COLLIDED WITH VERTICAL ROCK FACE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN 32 MINS AFTER TAKEOFF ON NIGHT VFR INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTION FLT, 31 MI WEST OF POINT OF DEPARTURE. RADAR TRK SHOWS ACFT PROCEEDED NW FOR 14 MINS, REVERSED COURSE FOR 4 MINS, THEN HEADED DUE WEST INTO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. ELEV OF THE CRASH SITE WAS 3700 FT. CLOUD BASES IN THE AREA (SEA LEVEL) WERE REPORTED TO BE 3000 TO 4000 FT WITH 8 MILES VIS, SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS AND HAZE. A MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM REPORTED ON-SITE CONDITION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED COLLISION OCCURRED WITH THE ACFT IN LEVEL CRUISE FLT. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYEDBY IMPACT FORCES AND POST-IMPACT FIRE EXCEPT FOR THE OUTER WING PANELS AND EMPENNAGE. THE ACFT WAS NOT DME EQUIPPED AND AN INSTRUMENT TRAINING HOOD WAS ON BOARD. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12