Cessna 172M N61842

Summary

On 26 July 1996 at about 03:35 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N61842 was involved in an accident near Nez Perce, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 July 1996 at 03:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Nez Perce, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

46.2803, -116.2294

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

N61842

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kooskia → Pullman

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

SEA96LA169

2 people had minor injuries.

the pilot's improper in-flight decision to turn up a canyon, which the aircraft was unable to out-climb. Factors relating to the accident were: high ambient temperature, high density altitude, blind/box canyon, and trees in the area where the aircraft's climb profile caused it to come in contact with the raising terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

After takeoff, the pilot elected to turn up a valley which would provide the most direct route to his destination. Once committed to that route of flight, he realized that the aircraft could not out-climb the rising terrain. He attempted to land the aircraft at the point where its climb gradient intersected the terrain, but it impacted trees during his attempted emergency landing. Later calculations determined the density altitude to be approximately 5,000 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.