# NTSB SEA06CA148: Cessna 172F, N8707U, American Falls, ID, July 29, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 29, 2006, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: American Falls, ID
- Coordinates: 42.799446, -112.82389
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7994&lon=-112.8239&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64222
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA148
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64222/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA148

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain an airspeed above stall speed. Factors include his improper decision to takeoff with a tailwind, and the effects of the tailwind upon the aircraft's takeoff performance.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The pilot took off with a tailwind of about five knots, and just after liftoff, the aircraft drifted off to the left of the runway heading. During his attempt to realign the aircraft with the runway heading, the pilot inadvertently allowed the airspeed to become too slow, and the aircraft mushed/stalled into the terrain about 200 yards off the departure end of the runway.

## Factual narrative

The pilot took off with a tailwind of about five knots, and just after liftoff, the aircraft drifted off to the left of the runway heading. During his attempt to realign the aircraft with the runway heading, the pilot inadvertently allowed the airspeed to become too slow, and the aircraft mushed/stalled into the terrain about 200 yards off the departure end of the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8707U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8707U-2007-10-31), registration cancelled 2007-10-31, S/N 17252611, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172F
- Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 52611
- Engines: Continental O-300-D reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Larry A. Peterson
- Registered owner: Larry A. Peterson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: U01, American Falls, ID
- Destination: LLJ, Challis, ID
- Airport: U01, American Falls, runway 03

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 134 total, 101 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 5 knots
- 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20060729014249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060729014249A), Jul 29, 2006: Cessna 172F, American Falls, ID, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft departed runway 3 with a reported 5 mph tail wind. After lift off the aircraft veered to the left and crashed into a field approximately 200…

## Other investigations on N8707U (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA88LA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA272), Sep 23, 1988: Cessna 172F (N8707U), Lake Wales, FL, substantial damage

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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