Cessna 172P accident near Salmon, Idaho, February 15, 1996
On February 15, 1996 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N96879, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salmon, Idaho (Lemhi County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a ground swerve. A factor relating to the accident was: the rock pile to the left of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 15, 1996 · about 8:00 pm local time · cases in 1996
- Place
- Salmon, Idaho · Lemhi County · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N96879 · registry record · serial 17276127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was landing on runway 17 in calm winds. He stated that he 'was on a decent approach, full flaps in, on centerline.' The pilot stated that in the flare, he 'noted a slight left yaw.' The airplane touched down with this left yaw and, according to the pilot, 'started a pronounced skid off the runway.' The pilot stated that although he attempted corrective action, the airplane departed the left edge of the 60-foot wide runway, struck a rock pile with its nosewheel, and nosed over.
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: student
- Flight time: 31 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,219 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 5, 1996; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,407 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSO Missoula MT at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 5,150 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:34 pm from SMN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N96879 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk 20,678 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,683 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J 96 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Lemhi County · nearest airport
- Missoula Montana Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Idaho 1,535 since 1982 · 288 in the last ten years
- Idaho 4,200 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA96LA055.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.