Cessna 205 accident near Chewelah, Washington, May 20, 1985
On May 20, 1985 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 205, registered N125ZL, was destroyed in an accident near Chewelah, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1985 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chewelah, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 205
- Registration
- N125ZL · registry record · serial 2050037
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING UP A CANYON AT LOW ALTITUDE WHILE CLIMBING AT AN ANGLE EQUIVALENT TO THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN SLOPE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED STEEPLY UPSLOPING TERRAIN AND BEGAN IMPACTING TREES IN A LEFT WING HIGH AND NOSE UP ATTITUDE WHILE STILL UNDER POWER. THERE WAS NOT EVIDENCE OF ANY POWERPLANT MALFUNCTION. THE WIFE OF THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT POSSESS ANY EXPERIENCE FLYING IN AND AROUND THE TERRAIN NEAR THE ACCIDENT AREA. THE DENSITY ALT AT THE ACCIDENT WAS ESTIMATED AT 6500 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL.
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; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 16, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 63S Colville WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from 63S, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.