# NTSB SEA83LA149: Cessna 170, Mullan, ID, July 14, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 13, 1983, 18:10 local (Jul 14, 1983, 00:10 UTC)
- Place: Mullan, ID
- Coordinates: 47.460971, -115.74018 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4610&lon=-115.7402&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39729
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA83LA149
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39729/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83LA149

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - wire,static (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE LINE DURING MANEUVERING TO STAY VFR AND CLEAR OF GROUND OBSTRUCTIONS. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS APPROACHING LOOKOUT PASS AT ABOUT 500-800 FT AGL AND WAS FOLLOWING INTERSTATE 90 WESTBOUND. HE INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IFR CONDITIONS AS HE TURNED LEFT TO FOLLOW THE HIGHWAY. THE LEFT TURN ANGLE OF BANK WAS INCREASED AND THE ACFT LOST ALTITUDE. THE PILOT TRIED TO CLIMB EASTBOUND TO AVOID RISING TERRAIN. AS THE PILOT APPROACHED THE SUMMIT EASTBOUND, HE WAS NEARING A STALL WITH AN OVERPASS STRAIGHT AHEAD. A DIVE AND PULL-UP TO CLEAR THE OVERPASS RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE WIRE. A FULL STALL FOLLOWED AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N406OV (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18392
- Airframe hours: 1838
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C145 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenneth A. Parsons
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, May 24, 1983, 38 hours before
- Departed: HLN, HELENA, MT
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 235 total, 172 in this make and model, 205 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: S06, 2 nm away

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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