Cessna 175 accident near Challis, Idaho, June 11, 1995
On June 11, 1995 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 175, registered N7142M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Challis, Idaho (Upper Loon Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT/PLANNING PREPARATION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DOWNDRAFT AND TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1995 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Challis, Idaho · Upper Loon Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N7142M · no longer on the register · serial 55442
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEPARTING FROM AN AIRPORT LOCATED IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA THAT IS SURROUNDED BY TREES AND STEEPLY SLOPING TERRAIN. THE PREFERRED RUNWAY FOR DEPARTURE, WHEN WIND CONDITIONS PERMIT, IS RUNWAY 04, WHICH SLOPES DOWNHILL AND HAS LOWER TERRAIN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON RUNWAY 04 WITH A TAILWIND. THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND DESCENDED INTO TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 2,500 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,353 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1995; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MYL Mccall ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,350 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°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.