Cessna 182P accident near Fairfield, Washington, April 11, 2001
On April 11, 2001 at about 4:50 am local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N21565, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairfield, Washington. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude and/or clearance over trees, resulting in a collision with trees, separation of a wing and uncontrolled collision with terrain. Factors included the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation, dark night conditions, low ceilings, and mixed rain/snow precipitation conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2001 · about 4:50 am local time
- Place
- Fairfield, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N21565 · no longer on the register · serial 18261717
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In a telephone call to the Seattle Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) about 20 minutes before departure, the pilot asked for the current conditions for the departure and destination airports. Both airports were reporting marginal visual flight rules (VFR) conditions, with conditions worse at the destination. The ceilings at both locations were lower than forecast at the time of the call, and were forecast to lower during the planned flight. When offered terminal forecasts and other weather information by the briefer, the pilot declined. Shortly thereafter, the flight departed under VFR during dark night conditions; no flight plan was filed and no air traffic services were provided. While flying toward the destination at low altitude, the flight encountered an area of rapidly deteriorating weather including low ceilings, rain, and snow. The airplane subsequently struck a stand of trees, separating its left wing, and crashed. Post-accident examinations of the aircraft and engine did not reveal any evidence of pre-impact mechanical or structural defects with the aircraft or engine. The aircraft's emergency locator transmitter (ELT) did not activate in the crash; the flight was not reported missing for several hours and was not located until several hours after being reported missing. Investigators found the switch on the ELT, whose battery had been changed 2 months before the accident, in the OFF position in the wreckage. The ELT functioned as designed when checked with the switch in the ON and ARMED positions.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 334 hours in all; 191 in this make and model; 268 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 29, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,142.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 19, 2001; 6.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFF Spokane WA at 4:39 am
- Destination: PUW Pullman WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 012° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 am from SFF, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.