Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Coeur D'alene, Idaho 83835
Tuesady, April 16, 1991 13:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 172 FLOATPLANE DEPARTED COUER D'ALENE LAKE IN A NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION, ENTERING A VALLEY THAT BECAME A CANYON, WITH TERRAIN THAT ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER THAN THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING. THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT IT WAS TOO NARROW TO TURN AROUND, AND CONTINUED CLIMBING UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES ON TOP OF A SADDLE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF HIS AIRCRAFT'S CLIMB CAPABILITY WHEN FLYING TOWARDS RISING TERRAIN. FACTORS INCLUDE HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/16/1991
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1315
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City COEUR D'ALENE
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83835
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 4
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 Not pertinent
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 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 24
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 45
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 6026
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43252
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number CFBET
NTSB Number SEA91LA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172H
Aircraft Series Identifier 172H
Aircraft Serial Number 17255248
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Foreign 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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHARLES S. PARNELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 504 BRISTOL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City PORCUPINE, ONT
Aircraft Owner State CD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHARLES S. PARNELL
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 504 BRISTOL ROAD
Operator City PORCUPINE, ONT
Operator State CD
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 No
Departure Airport Code S76
Departure City BROOKS SPB
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City FLATHEAD LAKE
Destination State MT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
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 --