Cessna 170 accident near Mullan, Idaho, July 14, 1983
On July 14, 1983, a Cessna 170, registered N406OV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mullan, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1983
- Place
- Mullan, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170 · all 170s on the register
- Registration
- N406OV · no longer on the register · serial 18392
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE LINE DURING MANEUVERING TO STAY VFR AND CLEAR OF GROUND OBSTRUCTIONS. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS APPROACHING LOOKOUT PASS AT ABOUT 500-800 FT AGL AND WAS FOLLOWING INTERSTATE 90 WESTBOUND. HE INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IFR CONDITIONS AS HE TURNED LEFT TO FOLLOW THE HIGHWAY. THE LEFT TURN ANGLE OF BANK WAS INCREASED AND THE ACFT LOST ALTITUDE. THE PILOT TRIED TO CLIMB EASTBOUND TO AVOID RISING TERRAIN. AS THE PILOT APPROACHED THE SUMMIT EASTBOUND, HE WAS NEARING A STALL WITH AN OVERPASS STRAIGHT AHEAD. A DIVE AND PULL-UP TO CLEAR THE OVERPASS RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH THE WIRE. A FULL STALL FOLLOWED AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
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: 235 hours in all; 172 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 205 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,838 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 24, 1983; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HLN Helena MT at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 59°F (15°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.