Cessna 170B N8387N

Summary

On 21 November 2008 at about 18:30 local time, a Cessna 170B registered N8387N, operated by Craig T Weaver, was involved in an accident near Hanna, Utah, United States. 3 people were on board and one died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 November 2008 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hanna, Utah, United States

Coordinates

40.5247, -110.9456

Aircraft

Cessna 170B

Registration

N8387N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Craig T Weaver

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Salt Lake City → Rifle

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09LA043

1 person died.

The flight's encounter with adverse tailwinds and downdrafts in mountainous terrain that exceeded the airplane's climb capability.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot checked the weather forecast twice prior to departing on the cross-country flight, with both reports indicating that visual flight rule (VFR) conditions would prevail. The pilot stated that after taking off and climbing to an altitude of 10,500 feet mean sea level (msl), he was able to survey the approaching mountain and its summit, and initiate a rate of climb that would clear the terrain. As the flight approached the mountain, the flight encountered increasing tailwinds that reduced the effective altitude gain over distance traveled to an amount insufficient to clear the terrain. The pilot reported that as the mountain range approached he encountered unusually strong downdrafts in relation to terrain contours leading to the summit. The pilot further stated, "...we also began experiencing a loss in altitude, speed, and rate of climb, as well as increasingly adverse terrain, causing our speed to become too slow for a safe turn without further loss of control or altitude with the increasing elevation." As the airplane was losing altitude, the pilot elected to pick out a clearing to make a forced landing, as the airspeed was too low for an evasive maneuver. The airplane impacted terrain in a snow-covered clearing at an elevation of 9,800 feet msl, coming to rest upright in an open meadow surrounded by mountainous terrain about 150 feet from the initial touchdown point. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.