Cessna 172M accident near Snoqualmie, Washington, November 8, 1989
On November 8, 1989 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N73422, was destroyed in an accident near Snoqualmie, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND POOR WEATHER EVALUATION BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 1989 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Snoqualmie, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N73422 · no longer on the register · serial 17267446
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF ON AN IFR FLIGHT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB TO THE ASSIGNED ALTITUDE DUE TO THE ACCUMULATION OF ICE. THE PLT WAS CLEARED TO RETURN TO THE ORIGINATING ARPT. EN ROUTE, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED BELOW THE MDA IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. WITH THE AID OF ANOTHER AIRPLANE TO RELAY MESSAGES, THE PLT WAS GIVEN VECTORS IN THE DIRECTION TO LOWER TERRAIN. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS IN IMC WHEN COMMUNICATION WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND 8 MONTHS LATER. DURING THE INVESTIGATION THERE WERE NO NOTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,856 hours in all; 141 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 3,815 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,339 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 21, 1989; 161 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNT Renton WA at 2:50 pm
- Destination: MWH Moses Lake WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from SEA, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.