Cessna 172H accident near Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, April 16, 1991
On April 16, 1991 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered CFBET, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF HIS AIRCRAFT'S CLIMB CAPABILITY WHEN FLYING TOWARDS RISING TERRAIN. FACTORS INCLUDE HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1991 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Coeur D'Alene, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- CFBET · no longer on the register · serial 17255248
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 172 FLOATPLANE DEPARTED COUER D'ALENE LAKE IN A NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION, ENTERING A VALLEY THAT BECAME A CANYON, WITH TERRAIN THAT ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER THAN THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING. THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT IT WAS TOO NARROW TO TURN AROUND, AND CONTINUED CLIMBING UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES ON TOP OF A SADDLE.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 290 hours in all; 242 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 172 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S76 Brooks Spb ID at 8:00 pm
- Destination: Flathead Lake MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 24 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.