- Date
- June 30, 2010, 11:52 local (17:52 UTC)
- Place
- Huntsville, UT
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N9247BCessna 175
- Defining event
- Enroute-climb to cruise: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 21, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100630037529A
- Case key
- 76494
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain during climb.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that after takeoff he began a southbound climb until he felt that sufficient altitude had been gained to maintain terrain clearance followed by a turn to the north-northeast. He continued to climb as he followed a canyon reporting that he experienced light turbulence throughout the flight. As the pilot flew up the valley he elected to follow the northwestern side expecting to gain extra lift from the wind. The pilot reported that the airplane was climbing but as the valley narrowed, the airplane’s climb rate decreased and then the airplane began to descend. The pilot began to shift to the other side of the valley, which only increased the rate of descent. As the pilot attempted to maintain altitude, the airspeed began to decrease. As the airspeed continued to decrease the pilot verified that full power was still being applied. The stall warning horn periodically activated as the pilot attempted to avoid trees. The airplane collided with a tree and nosed over as the airplane impacted terrain resulting in substantial damage.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that after takeoff he began a southbound climb until he felt that sufficient altitude had been gained to maintain terrain clearance followed by a turn to the north-northeast. He continued to climb as he followed a canyon reporting that he experienced light turbulence throughout the flight. As the pilot flew up the valley he elected to follow the northwestern side expecting to gain extra lift from the wind. The pilot reported that the airplane was climbing but as the valley narrowed, the airplane’s climb rate decreased and then the airplane began to descend. The pilot began to shift to the other side of the valley, which only increased the rate of descent. As the pilot attempted to maintain altitude, the airspeed began to decrease. As the airspeed continued to decrease the pilot verified that full power was still being applied. The stall warning horn periodically activated as the pilot attempted to avoid trees. The airplane collided with a tree and nosed over as the airplane impacted terrain resulting in substantial damage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9247B
- Reported as
- Cessna 175
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 55047
- Airframe hours
- 2,692
- Engine
- Cont Motor GO-300A, 175 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Meek John C
- Registered owner
- Meek John C
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 19, 2010 · 19 hours before
- Departed
- 42U · Mt Green, UT
- Destination
- U68 · Cowley, WY
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Private, Military, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,390 total · 40 in this make and model · 2,350 as pilot in command · 36 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Observed at
- KOGD, 20 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 14, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 599 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.