- Date
- January 31, 1983, 09:56 local (17:56 UTC)
- Place
- Winthrop, WA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N52243Cessna 172P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830131002889A
- Case key
- 39661
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Forced landing
Terrain condition - snow coveredFactor
Terrain condition - mountainous/hillyFactor
In-flight planning/decision - improperCause
Terrain condition - risingFactor
Weather condition - high density altitudeFactor
Proper climb rate - not possibleFactor
In flight collision with terrain/water
Analysis
The aircraft was crash-landed in the snow after the pilot flew into a box canyon. The pilot was following a highway oversnow covered terrain and took a wrong turn. By the time the error was realized, it was too late to reverse course or climb out. A forced landing was executed into a snow field.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N52243
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172 74453
- Airframe hours
- 920
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Galvin Flying Service, Inc.
- Registered owner
- James E. Sommerhouse
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 31, 1982 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- OMK · Omak, WA
- Flight plan
- VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 22
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 88 total · 17 in this make and model · 54 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Temperature
- -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.