Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dixie, Idaho 83525
Sunday, September 1, 1991 10:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT EXECUTED A SOUTHERLY DEPARTURE AS PER THE ADVICE OF LOCAL PILOTS FAMILIAR WITH THE 5600 FOOT MSL AIRSTRIP. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE PILOT LOST SIGHT OF THE CREEK BED HE WAS FOLLOWING AND CHOSE TO EXECUTE A CLIMBING LEFT TURN. DURING THE TURN THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE AND THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED THE TEMPERATURE AS 70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 8000 FEET EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WITH TREE(S) DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND DOWNDRAFT CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/1/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1045
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City DIXIE
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83525
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
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 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) 99
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 8000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
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 --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 563
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44487
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5934E
NTSB Number SEA91LA230
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 150
Aircraft Series Identifier 150
Aircraft Serial Number 17434
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 2
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 No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID K. ARNOLD, SR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2635 NORTH DIVISION
Aircraft Owner City SPOKANE
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99207
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DAVID K. ARNOLD, SR.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2635 NORTH DIVISION
Operator City SPOKANE
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99207
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code S80
Destination City GRANGEVILLE
Destination State ID
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 --