Lost River Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mazama, Washington 98833
Sunday, July 23, 1995 15:20 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airport was located in a valley in mountainous territory. The pilot estimated the wind at takeoff as being down the runway at 25 knots, gusting to 35 knots. He stated that he took off with 20 degrees of flaps due to concerns about obstacle clearance; however, the airplane owner's manual states that obstacle clearance takeoffs are to be performed with flaps retracted. Witnesses stated that after becoming airborne, the airplane 'initiated a healthy rate of climb.' The pilot and witnesses reported that the right wing then dropped as the airplane reached the level of treetops surrounding the airport. The pilot said he attempted to correct the wing drop with aileron but that his corrective action was not fully effective. The airplane subsequently impacted the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed for the wind conditions during climbout. The gusty wind condition was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1520
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City MAZAMA
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98833
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LOST RIVER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WA36
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2415
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 25
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 35
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1429
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1737
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8627B
NTSB Number SEA95LA160
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 36327
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 17 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 52
Airframe Hours 3959
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VERNON & TERRI JOHNSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 402 N.W. 5TH ST.
Aircraft Owner City CORVALLIS
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97330
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHNSON, VERNON S.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code WA36
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1520
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CVO
Destination City CORVALLIS
Destination State OR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 3150
Runway Width 85
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --