Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dixie, Idaho 83525
Saturday, September 4, 1999 11:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that while on final approach to a private mountain airstrip, the canyon that he was following was narrow, required steep turns to maintain terrain clearance, and that the elevation varied. About one-quarter to one-half mile south of the airstrip, the pilot's visual picture of the approach no longer appeared correct to him in that he felt that he was too low and close to the creek. The pilot retracted the landing gear and applied full power, however, the terrain necessitated a series of steep, approximate 60 degree bank angle turns to maintain terrain clearance, and the rate of climb while performing these turns was near zero feet/min. The pilot stated that because the nose was high and the speed slow; the stall warning horn was sounding. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and leveled the wings just prior to collision with the trees.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Inadequate airspeed and clearance was not maintained. Mountainous conditions, trees, and an inadequately planned approach were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/4/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City DIXIE
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83525
Event Date Year 1999
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 --
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 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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
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 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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1027
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 4 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1438
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9740X
NTSB Number SEA99LA153
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 210B
Aircraft Series Identifier 210B
Aircraft Serial Number 21058040
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 21 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 5025
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PRAIRIE FALCON AV. CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 561 SOUTH KAREY LANE
Aircraft Owner City IDAHO FALLS
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83402
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DAVID E. SHELDON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2385 BRIARCLIFF AVE.
Operator City IDAHO FALLS
Operator State ID
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 83404
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 ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 --