Cessna 180J accident near Stanley, Idaho, November 6, 1995
On November 6, 1995 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180J, registered N52095, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stanley, Idaho (Diamond D Ranch airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with obstacles at the end of the takeoff area. His failure to attain sufficient altitude to clear the obstacles was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1995 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Stanley, Idaho · Diamond D Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180J · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N52095 · registry record · serial 18052496
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot took off from an 1,800-foot long grass takeoff area with 1/2 inch of snow cover. He stated that he became airborne at minimum controllable airspeed and attempted to accelerate in ground effect but that the aircraft did not accelerate well. The airplane struck a fence at the end of the takeoff area, shearing off its left main landing gear, and a tree which damaged its left wingtip. The flight diverted to Challis, Idaho, and landed, where it went off the left side of the runway. The pilot reported a baggage weight of 250 pounds to an FAA investigator but only 100 pounds on the NTSB accident report. There were three occupants and six duffle bags aboard the airplane.
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: 15,150 hours in all; 2,450 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 15,150 as pilot in command; 50 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,838 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 13, 1995; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,190 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Flying B Ranch ID
- Runway 35, 1,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N52095 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.