# NTSB SEA92LA048: Cessna 172P, N96617, Nordman, ID, February 17, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 16, 1992, 16:15 local (Feb 17, 1992, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Nordman, ID
- Coordinates: 48.670085, -116.880897 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6701&lon=-116.8809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41631
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA92LA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41631/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92LA048

## Probable cause

THE PILOT SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY, AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS POSITIONING THE AIRCRAFT TO THE PRIEST RIVER USFS AIRSTRIP. UPON ARRIVAL HE OVERFLEW THE AIRSTRIP TO ASCERTAIN WIND AND SURFACE CONDITIONS.  THE RUNWAY WAS SNOW COVERED.  THE PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO CONDUCT A SOFT FIELD TOUCH AND GO TO CHECK THE RUNWAY SURFACE CONDITION DURING WHICH THE AIRCRAFT RAPIDLY DECELERATED AND THEN NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N96617](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96617-2014-05-02), registration cancelled 2014-05-02, S/N 17276095, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17276095
- Airframe hours: 4126
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Felts Field Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Felts Field Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 9, 1992, 79 hours before
- Departed: 66S, COOLIN, ID
- Airport: 67S, Usfs Priest River, runway 14, 4,600 × 175 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,270 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,115 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19920216004929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920216004929A), Feb 16, 1992: Cessna 172P, Nordman, ID, Substantial damage. Landed on snow covered u s forest service emergency strip and nosed over.

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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