Accident #1.2: Cessna 560, 1-9-21, Warm Springs OR

Miscommunication with ATC and climb up to 31k ft

NTSB Accident number: WPR21LA082

Pilot had filed an instrument flight plan and started having issues with ATC communication from the start. He took off from Troutdale, Oregon, and had trouble following ATC instructions. He got close to Mt Hood, and after climbing up to 31k feet and no longer responding to inquiries, spiraled down to the crash site.

According to this article, there was initial confusion if there was a passenger, with the NTSB preliminary report saying the pilot was the sole occupant. "There did not appear to be any significant weather along the accident route of flight," According to the NTSB's chief of media relations. The data recorder was sent off to the National Transportation Safety Administration recorders lab in Washington, D.C.

According to this article, the pilot was identified as Richard Boehlke, 72. The article cleared up the discrepancy between 2 souls on the flight plan and at the crash site. The article states; “No official cause for the crash has been released, Gregory said. However, he added, the “FAA did confirm that during his last transmissions, it sounded like Boehlke was slurring his words, possibly indicating some sort of medical issue, but nothing beyond that has been confirmed.” FAA records also indicate the model of twin-engine Cessna jet Boehlke was flying requires two pilots or a waiver, which he apparently did not have.”

According to the NTSB preliminary report, The pilot held a private pilot certificate, and although he held type ratings for the Grumman G-111 Albatross and Learjet, FAA records did not indicate that he held a type rating for the Citation 560.

My opinion: this pilot was not typed in the aircraft and did not have a waiver to fly single pilot. Adding the possibility that he was having a medical issue, this is a prime case to be looked into.

If you know any details that you would like to provide anonymously to help this investigation, please email FFaccidentinvestigations@protonmail.com

*disclaimer: this blog and it’s author is not part of any official investigations. The views of the author does not reflect their employer, union, or any organizations they’re a part of. Any opinions by the author are theirs alone.*