Cessna 180 N9493C

Summary

On 13 October 2024 at about 17:40 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N9493C, operated by Blue Thunder LLC, was involved in an accident near Owinza, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 October 2024 at 17:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Owinza, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

43.0000, -114.0000

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N9493C

Category

Airplane

Year built

1955

Engines

1

Operator

Blue Thunder LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hailey → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Unknown

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR25LA036

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the water during a low pass over a lake.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he descended to make a low pass over Pettit Lake. He noted that the clear weather condition with no wind impacted his depth perception as the lake surface appeared glassy. During the low pass over the water, the pilot misjudged his altitude above the lake, and the airplanes main landing gear contacted the water. The airplane then bounced and impacted the water a second time before it came to rest and sank. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that could have precluded normal operation. The airplane was not recovered.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.