Cessna 320D accident near Mazama, Washington, April 17, 2003
On April 17, 2003, a Cessna 320D, registered N4178T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mazama, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering. Mountainous terrain, trees and mountain obscuration were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2003
- Place
- Mazama, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320D · all 320Ds on the register
- Registration
- N4178T · no longer on the register · serial 320D0078
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft had been missing for four months when the wreckage was spotted by a helicopter pilot engaged in firefighting operations. The wreckage was located on the east wall of a north/south running valley at the 5,000 foot level. On site documentation of the wreckage indicated that the aircraft was traveling in a northerly direction when it collided with several trees before impacting the steep mountainous terrain. No evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was indicated. At the time of the accident, low clouds and mountain obscuration were in the area. Two pilot's flying in the area north of the departure airport had observed a twin engine aircraft flying in a northerly direction between 200 to 500 feet above ground level. Data extracted from the on board GPS unit indicated that the destination may have been to an airport in Canada. The last coordinates and altitude matched the accident site location and elevation. The last recorded speed was 197 knots. No flight plan had been filed nor was there evidence of a weather briefing from flight services. Family members were unable to verify the purpose of the flight or its destination.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 11, 1997; 431 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: EAT Wenatchee WA at 2:45 pm
- Destination: AD5 Merritt, Bc
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.