# NTSB WPR21LA056: Cessna 172, N8278B, Howe, ID, November 14, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 14, 2020, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Howe, ID · East face of Saddle Mountain - Coordinates: 43.930556, -112.93805 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9306&lon=-112.9381&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 102297 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102297/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102297 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA056 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain after an encounter with a downdraft, which resulted in a collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 172, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 172, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/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 172, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/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 172, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he was maneuvering the airplane from the south to the north on the leeward side of a ridgeline when the airplane encountered a downdraft and suddenly lost altitude. He turned the airplane to the west, then to the east in an attempt to regain altitude, but the airplane continued to descend and collided with terrain. The fuselage and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8278B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8278B-2022-02-05), registration cancelled 2022-02-05, S/N 36078, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36078 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 3741 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jacob Rothgeb - Registered owner: Jacob Rothgeb - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2020, 17.2 hours before - Departed: 1U2, Mud Lake, ID - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: minor; private; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 23.1 total, 12.3 in this make and model, 15.5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft - Temperature: 32 °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 20201114018059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201114018059A), Nov 14, 2020: Cessna 172, Mud Lake, ID, Destroyed. Flying at 10,000 ft, preparing to cross a ridge at about 1000 AGL when hit a down draft. Recovery was not possible and impending stall was indicated prior to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102297. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11665219&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20056_Redacted-Rel.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.