- Date
- July 31, 2016, 07:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place
- Kalispell, MT
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N30550Cessna 177
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 22, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160731008659A
- Case key
- 93737
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 airplane's hard landing during an aborted takeoff, following an encounter with a downdraft during takeoff initial climb from a remote mountain airstrip, resulting in an uncontrolled descent, attempt to land on the runway remaining, and subsequent nose over.
Findings · 6
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during takeoff from a mountain airstrip, and climbing just above the trees lining the runway, the airplane encountered an "extreme wind shear and an enormous downdraft". The pilot further reported the airplane began to descend at 1500-2000 feet per minute and he decided to land on the remaining runway. Subsequently the airplane touched down hard, bounced, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during takeoff from a mountain airstrip, and climbing just above the trees lining the runway, the airplane encountered an "extreme wind shear and an enormous downdraft". The pilot further reported the airplane began to descend at 1500-2000 feet per minute and he decided to land on the remaining runway. Subsequently the airplane touched down hard, bounced, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N30550
- Reported as
- Cessna 177 (A)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17701321
- Built
- 1968
- Airframe hours
- 2,766
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360 A2F, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 15, 2016
- Departed
- 8U2 · Kalispell, MT
- Destination
- GPI · Kalispell, MT
- Airport
- 8U2 · Schafer /Usfs/, runway 25, 3,200 × 60 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Handheld GPS
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
- 21
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 8, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 642.9 total · 230.3 in this make and model · 541.5 as pilot in command · 121.5 in the last 90 days · 24.7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.79 inHg
- Observed at
- KGPI, 43 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.