# NTSB WPR10CA279: Cessna 172H, N3948R, Bountiful, UT, June 5, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 5, 2010, 10:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Bountiful, UT - Coordinates: 40.83361, -111.822502 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8336&lon=-111.8225&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 76219 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA279 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76219/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA279 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2072424), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that she was flying into a canyon at 6,100 feet with the intent to climb through it and over the surrounding terrain. During the ascent the airplane started to lose airspeed and altitude. She attempted to turn around, but she felt that the airplane would stall due to an insufficient amount of airspeed and she abandoned the attempt. The pilot initiated a forced landing into trees at the bottom of a ravine and the airplane received substantial damage to the wings, fuselage and empennage. The calculated density altitude for the existing atmospheric conditions was 8,238 feet. The published maximum operating altitude for the airplane is 13,100 feet. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine at the time of the accident. The pilot stated the accident could have been prevented by acquiring enough altitude prior to entering the canyon. ## Factual narrative In a written statement, the pilot reported flying into a canyon at 6,100 feet with the intent to fly over it. During the ascent the airplane started to lose airspeed and altitude. The pilot attempted to turn around, however, could not because the airplane would stall due to an insufficient amount of airspeed. The pilot initiated a forced landing into trees at the bottom of a ravine; subsequently, the airplane received substantial damage to the wings, fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine at the time of the accident. The calculated density altitude for the conditions at 6,100 feet, altimeter setting 30.14, and temperature of 22 Degrees Celsius, is 8,238 feet. The published maximum operating density altitude for the C-172H is 13,100 feet. In a written statement, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by circling over a nearby city until enough altitude was acquired to fly over the canyon. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3948R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3948R-2012-09-21), registration cancelled 2012-09-21, S/N 17255448, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172H (H) - Registry model: [Cessna 172H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172h) (registry code 2072424) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17255448 - Airframe hours: 3003 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Amberdawn Mock - Registered owner: Herbert Biesinger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 2010, 8 hours before - Departed: KBTF, Bountiful, UT - Destination: KBTF, Bountiful, UT - Airport: KBTF, Skypark Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 21, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 155 total, 64 in this make and model, 120 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: SLC, 8 nm away ## 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 20100605036219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100605036219A), Jun 5, 2010: Cessna 172H, Farmington, UT, Substantial damage. Departed btf Skypark Airport aircraft performing fine. Headed up Farmington canyon engine started losing performance at approx. 50 knots airspeed tried to turn… 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.