- Date
- July 17, 2005, 14:25 local (21:25 UTC)
- Place
- Bonners Ferry, ID
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N120ERCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 27, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20050717016469A
- Case key
- 61998
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 terrain clearance while maneuvering. Mountainous terrain was a factor.
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 he flew up a canyon and was unable to maintain clearance from the rising terrain. The pilot reported no mechanical failure or malfunction with the aircraft at the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
On July 17, 2005, about 1425 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N120ER, registered to and operated by Northern Air Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with mountainous terrain located approximately nine nautical miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the certified private pilot received minor injuries. The passenger was seriously injured. The flight departed from Bonners Ferry about two hours prior to the accident.
During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he flew up a canyon and was unable to maintain clearance from the rising terrain. The pilot reported no mechanical failure or malfunction with the aircraft at the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N120ER
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17269535
- Airframe hours
- 7,079
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Northern Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2005
- Departed
- 65S · Bonners Ferry, ID
- Destination
- 1S1 · Port Hill, ID
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
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2
- Last flight review
- January 1, 2005
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 81 total · 81 in this make and model · 16 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.