# NTSB DEN99LA170: Cessna 172, N9103B, Panguitch, UT, September 25, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 25, 1999, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Panguitch, UT - Coordinates: 37.859878, -112.33921 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8599&lon=-112.3392&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47456/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA170 ## Probable cause Inadequate preflight planning and preparation by the pilot in command. Factors were high velocity gusty winds, high-density altitude, and unsuitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Forced landing, emergency landing - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During climb following takeoff, the aircraft was unable to clear surrounding terrain and the pilot made a forced landing in mountainous and hilly terrain. Wind and weather at the time were high winds, gusty winds, high temperature, and high density altitude. ## Factual narrative On September 25, 1999, at 1715 mountain daylight time, impact and postimpact fire destroyed a Cessna 172, N9103B, when it collided with terrain during an emergency landing after encountering heavy downdrafts following takeoff from Panguitch, Utah. The private pilot and her two passengers were not injured. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this cross-country flight to Cedar City, Utah. The flight originated from Panguitch. According to the pilot, she was doing a circular climb to get over terrain and a downdraft caused the aircraft to enter a descent. She said she attempted to land in a field but, during the landing roll, the nose wheel struck a rock and broke off. The aircraft then nosed over caught fire. The pilot said the accident site was approximately 7,000 feet above mean sea level (msl) and the temperature at Panguitch was 76 degrees Fahrenheit. (F). The Panguitch airport elevation was 6,757 feet msl. Standard temperature at 7,000 feet msl, according to a chart provided in the flight manual, was 35 degrees F. Thus the temperature was 40 degrees above standard, creating a density altitude of 9,700 feet. According to the performance charts in the Pilot's operating Handbook, the calculated maximum rate of climb was 150 feet- per-minute based on a temperature of 76 degrees F, and an aircraft weight of 2, 047 pounds. At the time of the accident, Cedar City, located approximately 30 miles to the west, was 10 miles visibility with clear skies, a temperature of 82.4 degrees F, and winds from 230 degrees at 12 knots with gusts to 19 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9103B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9103B-2000-03-29), registration cancelled 2000-03-29, S/N 36603 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36603 - Engines: Continental O-300A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Marcia H. Bahr - Registered owner: High Valley Aviators, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 1999, 50 hours before - Departed: U55, PANGUITCH, UT - Destination: CDC, CEDAR CITY, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 126 total, 63 in this make and model, 78 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 12 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CDC, 30 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 19990925027909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990925027909A), Sep 25, 1999: Cessna 172, Panguitch, UT, Destroyed. (.19) On September 25, 1999, at 1715 mountain daylight time, impact and postimpact fire destroyed a Cessna 172, N9103B, when it collided with terrain during an… 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. --- 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.