Bellanca 17-30A accident near Cougar, Washington, October 1, 1989
On October 1, 1989 at about 6:09 pm local time, a Bellanca 17-30A, registered CGUVU, was destroyed in an accident near Cougar, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE ABOVE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE ADVERSE WEATHER AND TERRAIN WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 1989 · about 6:09 pm local time
- Place
- Cougar, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 17-30A · all 17-30As on the register
- Registration
- CGUVU · no longer on the register · serial 74-30700
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS AIRCRAFT WAS RECEIVING FLIGHT FOLLOWING WHILE CRUISING AT 8500 FEET INBOUND TO PORTLAND, OR. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS LOOKING FOR AN OPENING TO GET DOWN THROUGH THE CLOUDS, AND LATER STARTED A DESCENT TO 6500. THE RADAR CONTROLLER NOTED THE AIRCRAFT TRACK GOING TO THE NORTH AND REQUESTED THE PILOT REPORT WHEN HEADED SOUTHBOUND AGAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT 3600 FEET, WHILE HEADED IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 18, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 3,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YVR Vancouver, B.C. at 4:49 pm
- Destination: PDX Portland OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.