# NTSB SEA95LA135: Cessna 172L, N4319Q, Stanley, ID, July 2, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 1995, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Stanley, ID - Coordinates: 44.259552, -114.97026 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2596&lon=-114.9703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42179 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42179/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA135 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE ALL AVAILABLE RUNWAY, HIS IMPROPER USE OF FLAPS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT IS HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (cause) - flaps - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - proper climb rate - not attained ## Analysis THE PILOT USED FLAPS FOR THE TAKEOFF, CONTRARY TO THE AIRPLANE OWNER'S MANUAL RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT USE OF FLAPS FOR TAKEOFF AT HIGH ALTITUDE. THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED AT AN ELEVATION OF 6,403 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE PILOT BEGINNING HIS TAKEOFF ROLL FROM MIDFIELD AT THE AIRPORT. THE WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE AND REMAINED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE GROUND. ABOUT 900 FEET BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE CARTWHEELED. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS, AND HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS AFFECTED BY WINDSHEAR AND DOWNDRAFTS. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 1995, about 1630 hours mountain daylight time, N4319Q, a Cessna 172L, was substantially damaged during takeoff from the Stanley Airport, Stanley, Idaho. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was destined for Boise and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to an FAA inspector from Boise, Idaho, witnesses stated that the airplane began the takeoff roll near the midpoint of a 4,300-foot turf runway. The airport is located at an elevation of 6,403 feet above mean sea level, and the temperature was reported to be about 62 degrees F. During the takeoff roll, the airplane became airborne and remained in close proximity to the ground. About 900 feet beyond the end of the runway, the left wing of the airplane struck the ground and the airplane cartwheeled. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions, and that he began to raise the flaps during the initial climb in an attempt to increase the airplane's climb rate. He also stated that he then "... hit a downdraft." In a written statement, the pilot stated: I was just beginning to raise some flaps when we hit some turbulence and a downdraft. I left the flaps alone and we began to fly normally for an instant when we encountered another downdraft or windshear. I had to push the nose toward the ground to avoid stalling. We were only a couple hundred feet high, hence no room to recover. I was forced to [flare] and land in the field below." Density altitude, based upon barometric pressure, was in excess of 8,000 feet above mean sea level. The owner's manual for the Cessna 172L states: ... during a high altitude take-off in hot weather where climb would be marginal with 10 degrees flaps, it is recommended that the flaps not be used for take-off. Flap settings greater than 10 degrees are not recommended at any time for take-off. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4319Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4319Q-1998-01-10), registration cancelled 1998-01-10, S/N 17260219 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17260219 - Airframe hours: 7481 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Patrick, Scott W. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 1995, 97 hours before - Destination: BOI, BOISE, ID - Airport: 2U7, Stanley, runway 17, 4,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,050 total, 200 in this make and model, 850 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SUN ## 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 19950702015899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950702015899A), Jul 2, 1995: Cessna 172L, Stanley, ID, Substantial damage. Used half of runway for takeoff. Unable climb. Settled. Wing hit. Cartwheeled. Factors density altitude. Used flaps. ## Other investigations on N4319Q (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 LAX91LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA057), Dec 17, 1990: Cessna 172L (N4319Q), Mcdermitt, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: INTENTIONAL BUZZING CONDUCTED BY THE PILOT. HIS POOR JUDGEMENT WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.