Cessna 172 accident near Johnson Creek, Idaho, May 28, 2000
On May 28, 2000 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N7902B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Johnson Creek, Idaho (Johnson Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the rising terrain. Factors include his poor decision to depart without assurance that he could clear the surrounding terrain under the ambient conditions, his failure to adhere to the accepted procedure of leaning the fuel mixture for high-altitude takeoff, high density altitude, downdrafts, mountainous terrain, and tress along his departure path.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2000 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Johnson Creek, Idaho · Johnson Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N7902B · no longer on the register · serial 29702
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Because of winds blowing from the south, the pilot made a southerly departure from a mountain airstrip where takeoff to the north is recommended any time wind conditions permit. The pilot departed in a heavily loaded aircraft at a density altitude of about 6,500 feet, but he did not lean the fuel mixture for best power. After departure he encountered downdrafts, and was unable to outclimb the rising forested terrain, and therefore the aircraft eventually impacted the tops of the trees.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 1,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,023 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 1999; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3U2 at 11:25 pm
- Destination: U35 Caldwell ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.