# NTSB SEA96LA032: Cessna 172K, N143JP, Owyhee, OR, December 17, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 17, 1995, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Owyhee, OR
- Coordinates: 45.529872, -122.600227 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5299&lon=-122.6002&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 11, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42318
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42318/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA032

## Probable cause

the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing.  The soft terrain and high vegetation were related factors.

## Analysis

While flying near the Owyhee Reservoir, the pilot decided to land on a dirt road. He flew over the road to check its condition and concluded it was safe for a landing. As the airplane touched down, the pilot realized that the surface was deep soft mud. He attempted to abort the landing, but a wing hit tall vegetation near the side of the road.

## Factual narrative

On December 17, 1995, approximately 1530 mountain standard time (MST), a Cessna 172, N143JP, collided with the terrain during an aborted off-field landing near Owyhee Reservoir, Oregon. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Caldwell, Idaho, about 30 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and the ELT was activated by the pilot after the aircraft came to rest.

According to the pilot, while flying near Owyhee Reservoir, he made the decision to land on a dirt road. He overflew the road to check its condition, and concluded it was safe to land on. As the aircraft touched down on the road, the pilot realized that the surface was deep soft mud, and therefore attempted to abort the landing. He added power and attempted to get the aircraft airborne, but one of the wings impacted tall vegetation near the side of the road.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - aborted
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N143JP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N143JP-2015-05-04), registration cancelled 2015-05-04, S/N 17257892, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172K
- Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17257892
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Prindle, Robin L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: U35, CALDWELL, ID

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 161 total, 19 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °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 19951217048319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951217048319A), Dec 17, 1995: Cessna 172K, Ontario, OR, Substantial damage. It was a pleasure flight with one passenger on board. Due to psychological need, Mr. Prindle (pilot) performed a low and slow fly by over the landing strip and…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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