# NTSB DEN87FA230: Cessna 170B, N3541D, Cedar City, UT, September 4, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1987, 15:28 local (21:28 UTC)
- Place: Cedar City, UT
- Coordinates: 37.590984, -113.19001 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5910&lon=-113.1900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 6, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17129
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87FA230
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17129/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87FA230

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, descent - 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3541D-1989-07-26), registration cancelled 1989-07-26, S/N 27084 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- Registry model: [Cessna 170B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (registry code 2072306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 27084
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870904050019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870904050019A), Sep 4, 1987: Cessna 170B, Cedar City, UT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Unable to climb out of canyon. Crashed in trees. Local pilots avoid flying in canyons due to turbulent downdrafts.

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.

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