Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mccall, Idaho 83638
Saturday, October 15, 1983 12:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PLT ENTERED A DRAINAGE AREA IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WITH THE INTENT OF CROSSING A RIDGE AT THE LOWEST POINT. AS HE CONTINUED IN A CANYON, HE HAD A 500 FT/MIN CLIMB RATE & HE BELIEVED HE COULD EASILY CLEAR THE RIDGE.HOWEVER, AS HE CONTINUED, THE CLIMB RATE DECREASED & HE GOT IN A POSITION WHERE THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ROOM TO TURN AROUND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE & CRASHED NEAR THE RIDGE AT AN ELEVATION OF APRX 7900 FT. THE PLT BELIEVED HE HAD ENCOUNTERED DOWNDRAFTS. THE ACFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR ITS MAX GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT. ITS NORMAL CLIMB RATE AT THAT WEIGHT & ALT COMPUTED TO BE APRX 330 FT/MIN. HOWEVER, THE CLIMB RATE WAS NEAR ZERO JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/15/1983
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MCCALL
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83638
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 10
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 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 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) 1118
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21426
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2001 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N738RD
NTSB Number SEA84LA010
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 17270171
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 Apr 1 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 2300
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name K/B CENTURY FLYING SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 200
Aircraft Owner City VALE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PIONEER AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City MCCALL
Operator State ID
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 U79
Departure City CHAMBERLAIN
Departure State ID
Departure Country
Departure Time 1210
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MYL
Destination City MCCALL
Destination State ID
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2001 8:08AM
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 --