Cessna 177RG accident near Salmon, Idaho, July 22, 1991
On July 22, 1991 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 177RG, registered N1573H, was destroyed in an accident near Salmon, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE FROM MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1991 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Salmon, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177RG · all 177RGs on the register
- Registration
- N1573H · no longer on the register · serial 177RG0747
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED SOUTHBOUND FROM THE SALMON, IDAHO AIRPORT AFTER A REFUELING STOP. A WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT ENTER A CANYON SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT AT LOW ALTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH THE EAST SIDE OF THE CANYON AFTER TURNING BACK TOWARD A NORTHERLY DIRECTION. DURING INITIAL IMPACT, THE RIGHT WINGTIP & NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A 30 TO 35 DEG RISING SLOPE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE AIRCRAFT WAS STILL ANGLED TOWARD RISING TERRAIN WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 5600 FT, ABOUT 11 MI SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT. LEADING EDGE GOUGES & CHORDWISE SCRATCHES WERE NOTED ON THE PROPELLER BLADES. THE THROTTLE, MIXTURE & PROPELLER CONTROLS WERE FOUND IN THE FULL FORWARD POSITION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 370 hours in all; 80 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SMN Salmon ID at 7:00 pm
- Destination: K50 Derby KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:08 pm from SMN, 12 miles away
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.