# NTSB WPR23LA204: Cessna 175A, N5089, Enterprise, UT, May 28, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 28, 2023, 16:43 local (22:43 UTC) - Place: Enterprise, UT - Coordinates: 37.512, -113.78146 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5120&lon=-113.7815&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - 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): 192268 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA204 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192268/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192268 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA204 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inability to maintain altitude during an initial climbout in mountainous terrain after encountering a suspected downdraft. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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 175A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane departed a private dirt strip in mountainous terrain with a left quartering headwind. During the initial climb, the pilot retracted the flaps from to 20º to 10º to improve the airplane’s acceleration. There was no change in airspeed, so he retracted the flaps completely and the airplane began a descent. He then extended the flaps back to 10º and initiated a shallow right turn to maneuver away from rising terrain, but the airplane did not climb. The pilot applied a nose down attitude to prevent a stall and the airplane impacted terrain and nosed over, in which the right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot suspected he had flown into a downdraft after taking off and reported there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5089](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5089), registered now, S/N 56756 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 175A - Registry model: [Cessna 175A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175a) (registry code 2072504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 56756 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 4252.1 - Engines: Continental O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gifford David M - Registered owner: Gifford David M - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 2023 - Departed: UT91, Enterprise, UT - Destination: KVGT, Las Vegas, NV - Airport: N/A - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review March 16, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,700 total, 60 in this make and model, 1,555 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 14 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KCDC, 35 nm away - METAR: KCDC 282253Z AUTO 24014G23KT 10SM CLR 26/M02 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP085 T02561022 ## 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 20230528008739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230528008739A), May 28, 2023: Cessna 175A, Enterprise, UT, Substantial damage. The pilot in command (PIC) departed from a private airstrip at mackie ranch (UT91) approximately 6 miles sw of Enterprise Utah. The PIC planned a route of… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192268. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15769169&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20204_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 208 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15769216&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20204-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.