Cessna A185F accident near Toutle, Washington, August 21, 2004
On August 21, 2004 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna A185F, registered N7562Q, was destroyed in an accident near Toutle, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's continued flight into known adverse weather conditions. Inadequate preflight planning/preparation, trees, a low ceiling and no suitable terrain available for the landing were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2004 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Toutle, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N7562Q · registry record · serial 18503610
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that weather information was attained before and during the flight. The cruising altitude was approximately 2,500 feet mean sea level. The pilot stated that while en route the ceiling and forward visibility deteriorated enough to warrant turning around and diverting to an alternate airport. While attempting to reach the airport, the weather conditions continued to deteriorate and the pilot made a decision to perform an emergency landing to avoid flight into possible instrument meteorological conditions and avoid contact with the surrounding rising terrain. The pilot chose to make a landing next to a clear cut area and land in immature trees adjacent to the clear cut area. The pilot stated that during the collision sequence, the wings were separated. The fuselage came to rest upright with few injuries to the occupants. It was during the subsequent post-crash fire which caused the severest injuries to the occupants. The pilot reported no mechanical failure or malfunction with the aircraft at the time of the accident. Prior to departure and during the in flight weather briefings, the weather specialist reported to the pilot adverse weather conditions along the route of flight and informed the pilot that visual flight rules flight was not recommended.
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: 1,843 hours in all; 733 in this make and model; 1,843 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,378 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2004; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MMV Mcminnville OR at 10:15 pm
- Destination: PAE Everett WA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 1.5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from KLS, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA04FA169.