DEN87FA230

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 170B · Cedar City, UT · September 4, 1987

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report

Date: September 4, 1987, 15:28 local (21:28 UTC)
Place: Cedar City, UT
Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
Damage: Destroyed
Phase of flight: Enroute
Aircraft: N3541DCessna 170B
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report October 6, 1988
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19870904050019A
Case key: 17129

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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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.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise - normal

Weather condition - turbulence,clear airFactor

In-flight planning/decision - improperPilot in commandCause

Weather condition - downdraftFactor

Proper altitude - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Descent - uncontrolledPilot in command

In flight collision with objectDescent - uncontrolled

Object - tree(s)

Analysis

While on a x-country flt the plt flew into a canyon where turbulence was encountered. The plt stated that he was unable to maintain alt and during the descent the acft collided with the terrain in a small side canyon.

Aircraft

Registration: N3541D
Reported as: Cessna 170B
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 27084
Engine: Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Destroyed
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Operator: Kyle W. Rice
Registered owner: Kyle W Rice
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: 100 hour · August 10, 1986 · 40 hours before
Departed: CDC · Cedar City, UT
Destination: PGA · Page, AZ

N3541DRegistration cancelled Jul 26, 1989 · Cessna 170BS/N 27084 Airframe modelCessna 170B

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: 45
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 1,230 total · 1,230 in this make and model · 1,200 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: Calm
Visibility: 12 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 41 °F
Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Observed at: CPC, 16 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.

Accident 19870904050019ACessna 170B · Cedar City, UTUnable to climb out of canyon. Crashed in trees. Local pilots avoid flying in canyons due to turbulent downdrafts.Sep 4, 1987 · N3541D · Destroyed · 1 fatal