- Date
- September 27, 2021, 10:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Warren, ID
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N3121YCessna 182E
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20210927016419A
- Case key
- 104037
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 altitude while maneuvering in a valley of mountainous terrain.
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 reported that shortly after takeoff, during the initial climb, she encountered downdrafts. She decided against a crosswind turn and maneuvered the airplane though a valley with the intention of turning the airplane around. However, the airplane was unable to outclimb the terrain and struck treetops. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain and a fire ensued. The airplane was destroyed during the postimpact fire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3121Y
- Reported as
- Cessna 182E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18254121
- Built
- 1962
- Airframe hours
- 5,500
- Engine
- Continental O-470, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Bill Rhoades
- Registered owner
- Bill Rhoades
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 15, 2021 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- 3U1 · Warren, ID
- Destination
- BOI · Boise, ID
- Airport
- 3U1 · Warren /Usfs/, runway 12/30, 2,765 × 50 ft, dirt
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system
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
- 59
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Flight engineer, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 9, 2021
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 18,000 total · 1,800 in this make and model · 7,000 as pilot in command · 130 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 6.2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.99 inHg
- Observed at
- KMYL, 32 nm away
- METAR
- KMYL 271651Z AUTO 18007KT 10SM CLR 16/01 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP131 T01560011
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 19, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.0 MB 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.