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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 31, 1997 · Cessna 170A · N1487D

Elk City, ID

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 31, 1997
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Elk City, ID
Aircraft
Cessna 170A
Tail Number
N1487D
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA97LA200

The pilot was attempting to land at an 800-foot-long wilderness ranch airstrip, which he described as 'a one way strip with no go around for a plane with only 145 HP.' The pilot reported that on final approach to the strip, he saw two children chasing a horse across the strip from left to right. He stated an adult male then came from the right side of the strip and threw his hands up in front of the horse, stopping the horse on the landing surface. The pilot reported that at this point, with people on both sides of the strip and the horse standing on the strip, he attempted a go-around 'knowing [there] was no way the plane could [climb] out and over the trees and canyon at the end of the runway.' The airplane stalled about 60 feet above ground level and 'came down almost flat' onto a pile of large rocks. The pilot reported that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved.

NTSB Probable Cause

A horse and children wandered onto the airstrip.

Full Narrative

On August 30, 1997, approximately 1930 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 170A, N1487D, was destroyed in a loss of control and collision with terrain during an attempted go-around at the Copenhaver (Badley Ranch) airstrip located in Idaho's Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area approximately 25 miles south of Elk City, Idaho. The pilot of the aircraft sustained serious injuries. No flight plan had been filed for the 14 CFR 91 flight, which originated at Grangeville, Idaho. The pilot reported that he was attempting to land to the south on the 800 by 30 foot dirt strip, which he described as "a one way strip with no go around for a plane with only 145 HP." The pilot stated that on final approach to the strip, he saw two children chasing a horse across the strip from left to right about 500 feet down the runway. He stated that at that point, an adult male came from the right side of the strip and threw his hands up in front of the horse, and that the horse then stopped on the landing surface. The pilot reported that at that point, with people standing on both sides of the strip and the horse stopped on the strip, he attempted a go-around, "knowing [there] was no way the plane could [climb] out and over the trees and canyon at the end of the runway." The airplane stalled about 60 feet above ground level and came down "almost flat" onto a pile of large rocks. The pilot reported that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:30 MDT
Nearest AirportCopenhaver Airstrip (0nm)
Runway18
Runway Length800 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 170A
Tail NumberN1487D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C145 · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 52 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data