# NTSB WPR11CA409: Cessna 170A, N1238D, Grangeville, ID, August 28, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 28, 2011, 06:20 local (13:20 UTC) - Place: Grangeville, ID - Coordinates: 45.779998, -115.916664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7800&lon=-115.9167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81613 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA409 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81613/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81613 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA409 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the single-engine airplane stated that he took off from the remote grass airstrip, which had 80-foot-tall pine trees along both sides. Shortly after takeoff the pilot heard a bang and the airplane veered right. The pilot tried to correct the flight path; however, the airplane descended and impacted pine trees about 300 feet east of the departure end of the airstrip. The pilot was able to extract himself from the cockpit before the airplane was consumed by a postaccident fire. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector and the county sheriff inspected the control cables of the airplane and found them all to be connected and continuous between the flight control surfaces and the cockpit controls. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the single engine airplane stated that he took off from the remote grass airstrip, which had 80-foot-tall pine trees along both sides of the air strip. Shortly after takeoff the pilot heard a bang and the airplane veered right. The pilot tried to correct the flight path, however, the airplane descended and impacted pine trees about 300 feet east of the departure end of the airstrip. The pilot was able to extract himself from the cockpit before the airplane was consumed by a post accident fire. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector and the county sheriff inspected the control cables of the airplane and found them all connected and continuous between the flight control surfaces and the cockpit controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1238D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1238D-2013-10-18), registration cancelled 2013-10-18, S/N 19792, built 1950 (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: 19792 - Airframe hours: 4389 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bokk John - Registered owner: Bokk John - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 12, 2011, 5 hours before - Departed: 37ID, Grangeville, ID - Destination: 37ID, Grangeville, ID - Airport: 37ID, Hungry Ridge Ranch Airport, runway 36, 1,680 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 18, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 580 total, 580 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KGIC, 12 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 20110828018939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110828018939A), Aug 28, 2011: Cessna 170A, Near Grangevill, ID, Destroyed. Pilot took off north and reported reaching 300 feet altitude and heard bang and aircraft yawed right and he lost control. Aircraft crashed at end of runway… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 3, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81613. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 657 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354504&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage overview (item 2, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354505&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20overview-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Main wreckage (item 3, .PDF, 952 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354506&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Main%20wreckage-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Close up view of fuselage (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354507&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Close%20up%20view%20of%20fuselage-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 5, .PDF, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354648&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Idaho County Sheriff's Report (item 6, .PDF, 366 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355020&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Idaho%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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.