NTSB Advisory
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
October 12, 2007

NTSB INVESTIGATES SKY DIVING ACCIDENT IN WASHINGTON

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the October 7, 2007 crash near Yakima, Washington of a Cessna 208. Search personnel located the missing wreckage on October 8, in remote steep mountainous terrain at about 5,000 feet mean sea level.  All 10 persons aboard the airplane were fatally injured.

Howard Plagens, Investigator-in-Charge, from the NTSB southwest regional office is the investigator-in-charge.  Members of the Board’s Office of Transportation Disaster Assistance are also on-scene. 

The plane, a Cessna 208B (N430A), departed Star, Idaho with a pilot and nine passengers en route to Shelton, Washington. The aircraft was used for parachute drop activities. Radar data indicate that the aircraft made a tight 360-degree turn before losing 1,400 feet in 12 seconds. The aircraft appeared to recover and stayed at 13,000 feet for three radar hits before it entered a rapid descent of 6,800 feet per minute to the last radar hit at 8,900 feet.

Initial data indicates that adverse meteorological conditions were in the area of the accident site. No flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 flight. 

Parties to the investigation are Cessna Aircraft, Pratt & Whitney, and the FAA.

Wreckage site of N430A, which crashed near Yakima, Washington on October 7.

NTSB Media Contact:  Terry N. Williams (202) 314-6100
                                    williat@ntsb.gov

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