# NTSB WPR12LA365: Cessna 182Q, N735KV, McCall, ID, August 20, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 2012, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: McCall, ID - Coordinates: 45.334167, -115.719169 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3342&lon=-115.7192&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84754 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA365 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84754/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84754 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA365 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s selection of the wrong route while flying in mountainous terrain at a high-density altitude, which resulted in the airplane impacting terrain when the increase in elevation exceeded the airplane’s climb performance. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Terrain: high elevation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021025/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021025/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, as he and the pilot-rated passenger flew through a canyon, the airplane gained airspeed and altitude. As they continued toward their destination, the flight instructor directed the pilot to turn right at a branch in the canyon. Shortly after, the terrain elevation increased, and it exceeded the airplane's climb performance, and the airplane subsequently impacted trees. The density altitude for the area was calculated to be about 8,524 feet, which would have affected the airplane's climb performance. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 2012, about 1115 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N735KV, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain during climb in rising mountainous terrain near McCall, Idaho. The flight instructor and his commercial pilot-rated student both received minor injuries. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional cross-country flight, which had originated from Mackay Bar Airport, Dixie, Idaho, about 15 minutes before the accident. The flight instructor said the intended destination was McCall; a flight plan had not been filed. The flight instructor said they departed Mackay Bar Airport (elevation 2,172 feet) and flew down the Salmon River while gaining speed and altitude. At Warren Creek they turned south while still climbing. They came to a "Y" in the canyon and he directed the pilot receiving instruction to take the right branch. Soon thereafter the increase in terrain elevation exceeded the airplane's climb performance. The airplane impacted trees and struck the ground. The elevation of the accident site was about 6,593 feet. The nearest weather reporting station reported the temperature was 65 degrees Fahrenheit and 30.15 inches of mercury pressure, which calculated to a 8,524-foot density altitude. The engine was shipped to Continental Motors, Inc., and on March 27, 2013, it was examined in the presence of a National Transportation Safety Board investigator. No evidence of any pre-impact mechanical discrepancies was found with the engine that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N735KV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N735KV-2015-12-18), registration cancelled 2015-12-18, S/N 18265493, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182Q - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18265493 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 3175 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Krauch William Karl Trustee - Registered owner: Krauch William Karl Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 2012, 15 hours before - Departed: ID28, Dixie, ID - Destination: MYL, McCall, ID - Flight plan: Unknown - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 3,041 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 60; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,059 total, 300 in this make and model, 48 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: MYL, 210 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 20120820017719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120820017719A), Aug 20, 2012: Cessna 182Q, Destroyed. The pilot was with an instructor conducting mountain flying training. The aircraft was returning to home base after having lunch at a remote airfield. The… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84754. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1, CFI (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1,%20CFI-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot Receiving Instruction (item 2, .PDF, 641 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1,%20Pilot%20Receiving%20Instruction-Redacted.PDF - Excerpt from CMI Engine Examination (item 3, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410804&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20CMI%20Engine%20Examination-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 4, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410805&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.