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Author Topic: Cessna 340A N68718 crash  (Read 24965 times)

Offline wazzu90

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Cessna 340A N68718 crash
« on: October 27, 2010, 04:42:07 PM »
It's on the SEA App/Cntr feed 10/25 14:30-1500 UTC archive

N68718 checks in off Chehalis 1:30 into the recording.  Reports engine out and returning to CLS at 8:57.  Says 'we're losing it' @ 9:58.  Seattle Center calls them and asks other flights to call them and monitor for ELT. 

Wreckage was found the next day on a mountain side.  Pilot plus two passengers did not survive.  Recovery of bodies and NTSB access to scene has been hampered by snow and weather. 

The plane was operated by Pacific Cataract & Laser Institute which operates a large chain of eye surgery centers throughout the Western United States.  Fleet info http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Name_Results.aspx?Nametxt=PACIFIC+CATARACT&sort_option=1&PageNo=1

I didn't edit the mp3 as the relevant audio is contained throughout this half hour segment. 



Offline Eric M

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Re: Cessna 340A N68718 crash
« Reply #1 on: October 27, 2010, 04:53:14 PM »
I've watched that plane come and go a lot via FlightRadar24, along with the Citation jet the institute also flies. One of the Institute's eye surgeons was onboard the plane.

Offline lewisj86

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Re: Cessna 340A N68718 crash
« Reply #2 on: October 27, 2010, 05:24:52 PM »
Any chance of editing out the silences?

alltheway

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Re: Cessna 340A N68718 crash
« Reply #3 on: October 27, 2010, 06:48:03 PM »
 :? I have observed the NTSB query database a while ago for some time and some months there where over 60 people who did not make it with their airplane, GA only, I know the USA is big, but about 60 persons per month ?????

Offline wazzu90

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Re: Cessna 340A N68718 crash
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2010, 01:13:22 AM »
I've watched that plane come and go a lot via FlightRadar24, along with the Citation jet the institute also flies. One of the Institute's eye surgeons was onboard the plane.

Yeah, they have two CJ3's, another Cessna 340A and a Pilatus PC-12.  You can hear their PC-12 N605PC handed off to Seattle Center 132.6 near the beginning of the audio clip.  They reported the cloud tops at 15,000 and then the accident plane requested 15,000 and then 17,000.  In the past they've operated two CJ2's and CJ1's.  I believe the accident plane was their first plane, purchased in the mid 80's.  They operate a chain of eye surgery and laser centers and fly the specialists in on the days they do procedures.  They run a slick operation.  Most of their office building are identical.  I've personally seen this plane at many airports in the region over the last decade or so.  I'm also very familiar with the area of the crash... very rugged terrain.  A SR-22 crashed in the same area last year trying to make it to a remote vfr strip.  Whatever happened, took place very quick.  Possible engine(s) out + icing scenario.  Very sad story. 

I decided to not edit this audio as the entire 30min segment involves this plane.  If you want to edit out the air... knock yourself out!

Offline bsmith19

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Re: Cessna 340A N68718 crash
« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2010, 09:39:41 PM »
My uncle is chief pilot for this company (he was not the one piloting the 340 that day) and I edited this audio for him the day of the accident and will upload it for liveatc now.  Very sad time for their company, today (saturday oct 30th) was the memorial services for those on board.  
« Last Edit: October 31, 2010, 12:46:23 AM by bsmith19 »

Offline littlerabbit

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Re: Cessna 340A N68718 crash
« Reply #6 on: November 02, 2010, 07:01:56 AM »
 :cry:

Offline briantambrose@gmail.com

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Re: Cessna 340A N68718 crash
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2010, 12:47:31 AM »
man that is really sad.. does anybody know the engine failure caused a spin?  Does that have a good engine out performance?