# NTSB SEA97LA200: Cessna 170A, N1487D, Elk City, ID, August 31, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 30, 1997, 19:30 local (Aug 31, 1997, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Elk City, ID - Coordinates: 45.79927, -115.509368 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7993&lon=-115.5094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42684 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA200 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42684/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA200 ## Probable cause A horse and children wandered onto the airstrip. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - object - animal(s) (cause) - object - other person (cause) - go-around - attempted, pilot in command - airspeed - inadequate - terrain condition - blind/box canyon (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to land at an 800-foot-long wilderness ranch airstrip, which he described as 'a one way strip with no go around for a plane with only 145 HP.' The pilot reported that on final approach to the strip, he saw two children chasing a horse across the strip from left to right. He stated an adult male then came from the right side of the strip and threw his hands up in front of the horse, stopping the horse on the landing surface. The pilot reported that at this point, with people on both sides of the strip and the horse standing on the strip, he attempted a go-around 'knowing [there] was no way the plane could [climb] out and over the trees and canyon at the end of the runway.' The airplane stalled about 60 feet above ground level and 'came down almost flat' onto a pile of large rocks. The pilot reported that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved. ## Factual narrative On August 30, 1997, approximately 1930 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 170A, N1487D, was destroyed in a loss of control and collision with terrain during an attempted go-around at the Copenhaver (Badley Ranch) airstrip located in Idaho's Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area approximately 25 miles south of Elk City, Idaho. The pilot of the aircraft sustained serious injuries. No flight plan had been filed for the 14 CFR 91 flight, which originated at Grangeville, Idaho. The pilot reported that he was attempting to land to the south on the 800 by 30 foot dirt strip, which he described as "a one way strip with no go around for a plane with only 145 HP." The pilot stated that on final approach to the strip, he saw two children chasing a horse across the strip from left to right about 500 feet down the runway. He stated that at that point, an adult male came from the right side of the strip and threw his hands up in front of the horse, and that the horse then stopped on the landing surface. The pilot reported that at that point, with people standing on both sides of the strip and the horse stopped on the strip, he attempted a go-around, "knowing [there] was no way the plane could [climb] out and over the trees and canyon at the end of the runway." The airplane stalled about 60 feet above ground level and came down "almost flat" onto a pile of large rocks. The pilot reported that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1487D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1487D-2002-01-08), registration cancelled 2002-01-08, S/N 20089, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170A - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20089 - Airframe hours: 1720 - Engines: Continental C145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John A. Harper - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 1996, 25 hours before - Departed: GRANGEVILLE, ID - Airport: Copenhaver Airstrip, runway 18, 800 × 30 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 260 total, 60 in this make and model, 260 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °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 19970830048109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970830048109A), Aug 30, 1997: Cessna 170A, Badleyranch, ID, Substantial damage. (-16) [privacy data omitted] 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.