Cessna 180 accident near Thomas Creek, Idaho, July 20, 1986
On July 20, 1986 at about 2:37 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N7583K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thomas Creek, Idaho (Thomas Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1986 · about 2:37 pm local time
- Place
- Thomas Creek, Idaho · Thomas Creek
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N7583K · registry record · serial 226492-R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED NOT BEING LINED UP PROPERLY ON THE AIRSTRIP WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED FOR TAKEOFF. A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING THE TAIL OF THE ACFT PULLING TO THE LEFT CAUSING THE ACFT TO SLIDE DOWN THE AIRSTRIP. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR DUG INTO THE TERRAIN, COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED COMING TO REST ON THE LEFT WING.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: UIS Challis ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,100 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA86LA173.