Johnson Creek Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Johnson Creek, Idaho 83677
Sunday, May 28, 2000 17:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Because of winds blowing from the south, the pilot made a southerly departure from a mountain airstrip where takeoff to the north is recommended any time wind conditions permit. The pilot departed in a heavily loaded aircraft at a density altitude of about 6,500 feet, but he did not lean the fuel mixture for best power. After departure he encountered downdrafts, and was unable to outclimb the rising forested terrain, and therefore the aircraft eventually impacted the tops of the trees.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the rising terrain. Factors include his poor decision to depart without assurance that he could clear the surrounding terrain under the ambient conditions, his failure to adhere to the accepted procedure of leaning the fuel mixture for high-altitude takeoff, high density altitude, downdrafts, mountainous terrain, and tress along his departure path.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/28/2000
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City JOHNSON CREEK
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83677
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport JOHNSON CREEK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3U2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 200
Airport Elevation 4933
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 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 7000
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) 773
NTSB Notification Source FAA COMM CNTR
NTSB Notification Date May 28 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2008
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 11 2001 4:06AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7902B
NTSB Number SEA00LA093
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 29702
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 13 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 44
Airframe Hours 4023
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID L. HARDWICK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3819 S MONTANA AVE.
Aircraft Owner City CALDWELL
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83605
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
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 3U2
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1725
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code U35
Destination City CALDWELL
Destination State ID
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 11 2001 4:06AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --