Cessna 180G accident near Cambridge, Idaho, November 14, 1987
On November 14, 1987, a Cessna 180G, registered N4613U, was destroyed in an accident near Cambridge, Idaho. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- November 14, 1987
- Place
- Cambridge, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180G · all 180Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4613U · no longer on the register · serial 18051313
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A FUEL STOP AT ELKO, NV THE PILOT REQUESTED A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR VFR FLIGHT TO LANDER, WY OR TO COUER D'ALENE, ID. THE FAA FSS BRIEFED HIM ON ADVERSE WEATHER TO BOTH DESTINATIONS, WITH FLIGHT ADVISORIES FOR MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS, OCCASIONAL SEVERE TURBULENCE AND SEVERE ICING IN CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION. THE PILOT DEPARTED WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN OR STATED DESTINATION. WHILE ENROUTE, THE PILOT CALLED THE CEDAR CITY FLIGHT ADVISORY FACILITY FOR A WEATHER UPDATE AND WAS AGAIN ADVISED OF ADVERSE WEATHER ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. WHEN THE FLIGHT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT LANDER, WY, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED BUT SUSPENDED AFTER 10 DAYS DUE TO LACK OF FLIGHT PLAN OR DESTINATION INFORMATION. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED UNDER A 7 STRAND, 230 KV ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINE BY A LOCAL RESIDENT 13 DAYS AFTER THE MISHAP. THE AIRCRAFT HAD ELECTRIC ARC BURN MARKS FROM IMPACT WITH THE ELECTRIC WIRES.
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: 3,109 hours in all; 375 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 3,032 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,397 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 19, 1987; 175 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EKO Elko NV at 9:55 pm
- Destination: S83 Kellog ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from MYL, 35 miles away
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.