MILTONFREEWATER, OR, USA
N1372F
CESSNA 172G
DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED FLYING JUST ABOVE THE TREE LINE IN A VALLEY APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET BELOW THE RIDGE LINE. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL THROUGH THIS VALLEY WHICH LED INTO A BOX CANYON. THE AIRPLANE THEN MADE AN APPROXIMATE 45 DEGREE BANKING RIGHT TURN, AND ALMOST COMPLETED THE 180 DEGREE TURN WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE TERRAIN. THE WINESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING NORMALLY THE ENTIRE TIME AND THAT THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE UNDER CONTROL UNTIL THE TURNING MANEUVER.
INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, CLEARANCE NOT MAINTAINED, LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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