# Accident 20240926014279A: Cessna 172P, Grangeville, ID, September 26, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 26, 2024, 12:00 local time
- Place: Grangeville, ID
- Airport: Fish Lake /Usfs/
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.3279° N, 115.0702° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3279&lon=-115.0702&mi=10
- Aircraft: N54829, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54829) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172P (registry code 2072436, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 129 total, 106 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA315) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240926014279A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED HE WANTED TO SCOUT OUT A BACK COUNTRY AIRPORT AND INVESTIGATE THE AREA FOR FUTURE FLIGHTS. PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE A LOW PASS WITH NO INTENSION TO LAND. PILOT STATED "I ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO GET TOO LOW WHERE I WAS UNABLE TO ACHIEVE ENOUGH LIFT TO EXIT THE CANYON. WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT IT WOULD NOT CLEAR THE RIDGELINE, A LAST-MINUTE ATTEMPT TO MAKE A TURN BACK INTO THE VALLEY WAS ATTEMPTED DESPITE KNOWING THE TREES WERE AT THE LEVEL OF FLIGHT PATH. I FLEW THE AIRCRAFT TO ITS SLOWEST SPEED BEFORE STALL, THIS IS WHEN THE AIRCRAFT HIT TREES AND WENT DOWN INTO THE FOREST."

BOTH OCCUPANTS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND HIKED DOWN TO THE RUNWAY WHERE ANOTHER PILOT USED HIS PLB TO GET MEDICAL EVACUATION HELP FOR BOTH OCCUPANTS.

## 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 WPR24LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA315), Sep 26, 2024: Cessna 172P (N54829), Kooskia, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to descend into a canyon that exceeded the performance capabilities of the airplane, which resulted in an impact with trees and terrain.

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.

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