Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Colburn, Idaho 83865
Sunday, May 24, 1992 16:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED AND INADVERTENTLY ENTERED A BOX CANYON IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. HE ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE COURSE AT THE TOP OF THE NARROW CANYON AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND SLOW AIRSPEED, AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AT 4400 FT MSL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED, FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE COURSE IN A BOX CANYON, AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE NARROW BOX CANYON, THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND THE LACK OF MOUNTAIN FLYING EXPERIENCE BY THE PIC.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/24/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City COLBURN
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83865
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 5
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1400 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 38
Weather Observation Facility ID 57S
Elevation of weather observation facility 2017
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 6440
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 305
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 28 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46478
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:56PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3988Q
NTSB Number SEA92FA109
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172L
Aircraft Series Identifier 172L
Aircraft Serial Number 17260088
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Feb 13 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 72
Airframe Hours 2899
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CARR, CHET D.
Aircraft Owner Street Address HCR 66, BOX 82
Aircraft Owner City PRAIRIE CITY
Aircraft Owner State SD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 57649
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HARKINS, TIMBER J.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX 54
Operator City EKALAKA
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 56324
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 No
Departure Airport Code 57S
Departure City TROY
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1540
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 57S
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --