Cessna 170B accident near Dutch John, Utah, June 11, 2000
On June 11, 2000 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N4514C, was destroyed in an accident near Dutch John, Utah (Dutch John Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the trees. Factors were a high-density altitude and wind gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2000 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Dutch John, Utah · Dutch John Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4514C · no longer on the register · serial 25458
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the winds were high (20 knots) and very gusty (to 30 knots) during his takeoff roll. He said that after liftoff from runway 29, the airplane 'hit a down draft' and would not gain altitude. The left wing hit some trees, and the airplane settled to the ground. Postimpact fire consumed the airplane. The density altitude was computed to be 8,460 feet.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,503 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 4,175 as pilot in command; 2,118 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,583 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 33U at 6:00 pm
- Destination: EVW Evanston WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 6,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from RKS, 42 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.