Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cascade, Idaho 83611
Tuesady, January 7, 1997 12:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot approached a mountain pass in order to see if the weather would allow him to fly through it to his destination. As he came closer to the pass, he decided that there was not enough clearance between the terrain and the overcast above. He therefore elected to reverse course. During the course reversal, he slowed to 65 knots, applied 20 degrees of flaps, and maneuvered at 100 to 150 feet above the terrain. Just after rolling out from the course reversal, the aircraft sank/settled into the trees below. Although the pilot thought the descent may have been initiated by the passenger accidentally bumping the flap switch to the full up position, he did not know for sure if that had happened. As the aircraft sank below tree-top level, the pilot slapped the flap switch to the full-down position.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from the terrain while reversing course in mountainous terrain. Factors include the mountainous terrain and tall trees in the area where he was maneuvering.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/7/1997
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City CASCADE
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83611
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
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 7500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) -6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 7 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:06PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N717CM
NTSB Number SEA97LA046
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model TU-206
Aircraft Series Identifier TU-206
Aircraft Serial Number U20604988
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 11 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 2490
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ACCESS AIR, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 698 AVE. H, SUITE #303
Aircraft Owner City BOISE
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83712
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
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 P4PA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MYL
Departure City MCCALL
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 3U2
Destination City YELLOW PINE
Destination State ID
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --