# NTSB WPR22LA037: Cessna 172, N8509B, Stanley, ID, November 14, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 14, 2021, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Stanley, ID · Airport Environment - Coordinates: 44.723306, -115.00397 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7233&lon=-115.0040&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - 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-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104264 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104264/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104264 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA037 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain sufficient airspeed for the airplane to climb with a tailwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072402), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff from a grass/dirt runway, the airplane encountered tailwind gusts and had a long ground roll. After the airplane became airborne and cleared the end of the runway, a noticeable degradation of performance was observed. The stall warning horn began to buzz, and the airplane started to descend. While maneuvering the airplane to avoid obstacles, the airplane continued to descend. He performed a forced landing resulting in substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A weather observation station located about 30 miles south; reported that, about 20 minutes after the accident, the wind was variable at 3 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The airplane was taking off from runway 3. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8509B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8509B), registered now, S/N 36209, 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: 36209 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 3109.3 - Engines: Continental O-330A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Joel A LaFleur - Registered owner: Joel A LaFleur - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 11, 2021, 15.6 hours before - Destination: U88, Garden Valley, ID - Airport: 2U8, Thomas Creek, runway 03, 2,100 × 75 ft, gravel - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 11,800 total, 118.2 in this make and model, 6,500 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: KSNT, 33 nm away - METAR: KSNT 141851Z AUTO VRB03G25KT 12/02 A3027 RMK AO1 SLP204 T01220022 ## 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 20211114019519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211114019519A), Nov 14, 2021: Cessna 172, Stanley, ID, Substantial damage. Original tricycle geared aircraft has been altered/converted to conventional gear. Pilot in command (PIC) departed Thomas Creek (2U8) runway 03 to the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104264. 9.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 8.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12955370&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA037%20NTSB%206120%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Damage photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12958813&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20Photo-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.