Cessna 182P accident near Yellow Pine, Idaho, September 15, 2005
On September 15, 2005 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N58717, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yellow Pine, Idaho (Johnson Creek 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 improper preflight planning/preparation during takeoff. A factor was the windshear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 2005 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Yellow Pine, Idaho · Johnson Creek · 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
- N58717 · no longer on the register · serial 18262255
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After getting confirmation from the pilot who took off before him that the wind wasn't that bad, the pilot departed on Runway 17. During the initial climbout the pilot encountered a windshear condition, as the headwind changed to a 20 knot tailwind. Approaching rising terrain and at an altitude of approximately 60 to 80 feet above the ground and not climbing, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. After retarding the throttle to idle the airplane subsequently impacted the ground "very hard", causing both wheels to separate from both main landing gear, the nose gear folding back into the firewall, and the top two engine mounts separating. There was no postcrash fire and all occupants exited the airplane without injury. The pilot indicated there were no anomalies with the airplane prior to or during the departure, and that the wind at the time of departure was from 170 degree at 10 knots, gusting to 30 knots. The pilot stated that he felt he should have delayed his takeoff for 1 to 2 hours, as cooler temperatures and calmer winds might have prevailed. It was also noted that although the pilot had recently operated into and out of the airstrip, this was the first time he had attempted taking off on Runway 17. The Airport/Facility Directory cautions against taking off on Runway 17, paying particular attention to density altitude, turbulence, and mountain flying proficiency.
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: 494 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 494 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,866 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2005; 7.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3U2 Yellow Pine ID at 9:45 pm
- Destination: IDA Idaho Falls ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°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.
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.