Cessna 182Q accident near Mccall, Idaho, August 20, 2012
On August 20, 2012 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna 182Q, registered N735KV, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Mccall, Idaho. It was an instructional 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
The flight instructor’s selection of the wrong route while flying in mountainous terrain at a high-density altitude, which resulted in the airplane impacting terrain when the increase in elevation exceeded the airplane’s climb performance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2012 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mccall, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q, built 1977 · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N735KV · no longer on the register · serial 18265493
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that, as he and the pilot-rated passenger flew through a canyon, the airplane gained airspeed and altitude. As they continued toward their destination, the flight instructor directed the pilot to turn right at a branch in the canyon. Shortly after, the terrain elevation increased, and it exceeded the airplane's climb performance, and the airplane subsequently impacted trees. The density altitude for the area was calculated to be about 8,524 feet, which would have affected the airplane's climb performance. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › High elevation › Contributed to outcome
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Flight planning/navigation › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,041 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,059 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 1,588 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 2012; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ID28 Dixie ID at 5:00 pm
- Destination: MYL Mccall ID
- Flight plan: not recorded
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from MYL, 210 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
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.