Cessna 180G accident near Challis, Idaho, June 22, 1991
On June 22, 1991 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna 180G, registered N4700U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Challis, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THAT THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER A POWER LOSS DUE TO A FRACTURED CYLINDER BOSS AND A BENT ENGINE PUSHROD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 1991 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Challis, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180G · all 180Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4700U · no longer on the register · serial 18051400
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 180 WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT A FEW MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND LOST POWER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RETURN TO A SAFE LANDING SITE, SO ELECTED TO ATTEMPT A FORCED LANDING NEAR A RIVER. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED THAT THE EXHAUST VALVE ROCKER SHAFT BOSS ON ONE CYLINDER HAD FAILED AND THE BROKEN PIECE MIGRATED UNDER THE INTAKE ROCKER SHAFT, WHERE IT CAUSED THE VALVE PUSH ROD TO BEND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,570 hours in all; 201 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 3,070 as pilot in command; 420 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Flying B Ranch ID at 3:30 pm
- Destination: Camas Creek ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- 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.