Cessna 172N accident near Prindle, Washington, June 4, 1998
On June 4, 1998 at about 9:23 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N6234D, was destroyed in an accident near Prindle, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during attempted flight into instrument meteorological conditions. Factors contributing to the accident were clouds, dark night conditions, spatial disorientation, and drug impairment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1998 · about 9:23 am local time
- Place
- Prindle, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6234D · no longer on the register · serial 17272652
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrument rated pilot took off at 0211 under dark night conditions and encountered ceilings of 1,400 foot broken and 2,200 foot overcast. The radar track showed the aircraft reaching an altitude of 2,000 feet as it entered into a left, descending spiral. The last radar target was within 1/2 mile of the crash site and the distribution of wreckage and tree strikes indicated a steep descent angle. Toxicological test revealed the pilot had blood levels of 0.020 (ug/ml, ug/g) amphetamine, 0.092 (ug/ml, ug/g) methamphetamine, and 0.005 (ug/ml, ug/g) tetrahydrocannabinol (the active substance in marijuana).
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 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TTD Troutdale OR at 9:12 am
- Destination: S22 Hermiston OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 am from PDX, 15 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.