# Accident 20230528008739A: Cessna 175A, Enterprise, UT, May 28, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 28, 2023, 16:43 local time
- Place: Enterprise, UT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.5120° N, 113.7815° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5120&lon=-113.7815&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5089, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5089) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 175A (registry code 2072504, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental GO-300 series (registry code 17024, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 175A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR GO-300 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 350 total, 95 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA204) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230528008739A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) DEPARTED FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AT MACKIE RANCH (UT91) APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES SW OF ENTERPRISE UTAH. THE PIC PLANNED A ROUTE OF FLIGHT FROM UT91 TO LAS VEGAS. THE AIRMAN STATED HE HAD PLANNED AND FLOWN THIS ROUTE IN THE PAST. THE AIRFIELD IS AT AN ELEVATION OF 5642 FEET. THE SHERIFF REPORTED THE TEMPERATURE TO BE APPROXIMATELY 85 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT THE SITE OF THE CRASH. THE ALTITUDE OF THE CRASH WAS APPROXIMATELY 6900 FEET. THE OUTSIDE CONDITIONS WERE VMC. THE PIC DEPARTED THE FIELD AND STARTED A NORMAL CLIMB OUT. HE WAS FLYING A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 266 DEGREES TOWARDS A SADDLE IN THE MOUNTAINS TO THE WSW OF UT91.  AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROACHING THE SADDLE THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO LOSE PERFORMANCE AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO CONTINUE CLIMBING AT LESS THAN 50’ PER MINUTE. THE AIRMAN HAD CHOSEN TO FLY UP THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SADDLE WHICH HE STATED DID NOT LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT ENOUGH ROOM TO TURN AROUND. THE PIC STATED FROM THE PERSPECTIVE INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THE AIRCRAFT WOULD CLEAR THE TREES AND SADDLE OF THE MOUNTAIN. AT THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT REACHED THE SADDLE OF THE MOUNTAIN IT WAS NOT ABOVE TREE TOP LEVEL.  THE AIRCRAFT FIRST STUCK THE TOPS OF TREES BEFORE LOSING FURTHER ALTITUDE WHERE THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN WHICH CAUSED TO AIRCRAFT TO FLIP UPSIDE DOWN WITH THE WING TOPS DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY CLIMB PERFORMANCE FOR THE ROUTE CHOSEN. DUE TO HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND DOWNDRAFTS NEAR THE SADDLE OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN (CFIT) DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR23LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA204), May 28, 2023: Cessna 175A (N5089), Enterprise, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain altitude during an initial climbout in mountainous terrain after encountering a suspected downdraft.

## Other reports on N5089 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20220516007349I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220516007349I), May 16, 2022: Cessna 175A (N5089), California City, CA, Minor damage. The aircraft landed and was proceeding to a taxi way when it was struck on it?s right side by a large wind gust, airport condinitions were gusty winds,that…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.