- Date
- June 10, 2000, 19:00 local (Jun 11, 2000, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Dutch John, UT
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4514CCessna 170B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000610009789A
- Case key
- 49400
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the trees. Factors were a high-density altitude and wind gusts.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the winds were high (20 knots) and very gusty (to 30 knots) during his takeoff roll. He said that after liftoff from runway 29, the airplane 'hit a down draft' and would not gain altitude. The left wing hit some trees, and the airplane settled to the ground. Postimpact fire consumed the airplane. The density altitude was computed to be 8,460 feet.
Factual narrative
On June 10, 2000, at 1900 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N4514C, was destroyed by fire following impact with terrain near Dutch John, Utah. The airline transport pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The airplane was being operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that was originating at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported that the winds were high (20 knots) and very gusty (to 30 knots) during his takeoff roll. He said that after liftoff from runway 29, the airplane "hit a down draft" and would not gain altitude. The left wing hit some trees, and the airplane settled to the ground. Postimpact fire consumed the airplane.
The pilot reported a density altitude of 7,400 feet; the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge computed the density altitude to be 8,460 feet (temperature 18 degrees Celsius, altimeter setting 29.92 inches of mercury, and field elevation of 6,561 feet).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4514C
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25458
- Airframe hours
- 1,583
- Engine
- Continental C-145-2, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James K. Mcdowell
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 28, 2000
- Departed
- 33U
- Destination
- EVW · Evanston, WY
- Airport
- 33U · Dutch John Airport, runway 29, 6,800 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,503 total · 230 in this make and model · 4,175 as pilot in command · 84 in the last 90 days · 54 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 9 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RKS, 42 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.