16
The east sector borders 14,411-foot Mount Rainier and the Cascade
Mountain Range.
The pilot of a Cessna departed Ranger Creek Airport and planned
to follow the White River valley northwest towards lower terrain and
eventually land at Boeing Field (BFI). The aircraft's elevation at takeoff was
2,650 feet in the foothills just north of Mount Rainier. The cloud ceiling
had been predicted at 5,000 feet that day but unfortunately, it was much
lower. When the pilot turned the aircraft to follow the valley to the west,
he encountered a wall of clouds and had no choice but to enter them.
N740QR: I'm lost in the clouds in the mountains and a VFR pilot.
Pate: Verify your full call sign please.
N740QR: N704QR.
Pate: Cessna N740QR squawk 0-3-3-4.
N740QR: 0-3-3-4.
N740QR: Alright, help me.
Joshua J. Pate had been a controller at S46 for
about four years on Sept. 6, 2015, when he
plugged into the departure east sector at S46.
JOSHUA J.
PATE
Seattle TRACON
