Cessna 172M accident near Couer D'Alene, Idaho, May 17, 1985
On May 17, 1985 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N13403, was substantially damaged in an accident near Couer D'Alene, Idaho (Coeur D'Alene Air Term. airport). 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
- May 17, 1985 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Couer D'Alene, Idaho · Coeur D'Alene Air Term. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N13403 · no longer on the register · serial 17262732
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENG LOST POWER AFTER CARB HEAT WAS APPLIED & THE THROTTLE WAS RETARDED ON BASE LEG. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING ON FRESHLY PLOWED GROUND SHORT OF THE RWY. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY DURING AN OPERATIONAL CHECK AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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: 67 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 36 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,766 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 26, 1984; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-325-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S72 St. Maries ID at 7:45 pm
- Destination: COE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,400 ft by 74 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:18 pm from COE
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.