Cessna 182P accident near Sulfur Creek, Idaho, October 13, 2001
On October 13, 2001 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N20877, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sulfur Creek, Idaho (Sulfur Creek Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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 directional control during the aborted takeoff. Factors include the pilot's excessive rotation attitude, and soft/wet terrain conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2001 · about 5:30 pm local time · cases in 2001
- Place
- Sulfur Creek, Idaho · Sulfur Creek Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N20877 · registry record · serial 18261279
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll, the pilot over-rotated, causing the aircraft's tail cone to strike the runway surface. He then maintained this excessive pitch attitude as the aircraft continued to roll down the runway. The pilot eventually became convinced that he would not be able to ensure a safe takeoff if he continued. He therefore aborted the takeoff. During the abort, he allowed the aircraft to drift to the side of the runway, where one of the main gear encountered soft terrain. After encountering the soft terrain, the aircraft veered off the side of the runway surface, where the nose wheel encountered soft/wet terrain conditions. Soon thereafter, the nose wheel sank into the terrain and the aircraft nosed over.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 183 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 152 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 11, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,235 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 2001; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Sulfur Creek ID at 5:30 pm
- Destination: S81 Indian Creek ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 3,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N20877 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 182 Skylane 11,834 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental O-470R 107 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Indian Creek Usfs Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Idaho 1,535 since 1982 · 287 in the last ten years
- Idaho 4,199 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA02LA006.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.