Cessna 172 accident near Stanley, Idaho, November 14, 2021
On November 14, 2021 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1957 Cessna 172, registered N8509B, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Stanley, Idaho (Thomas 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
The pilot's failure to attain sufficient airspeed for the airplane to climb with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 2021 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stanley, Idaho · Thomas Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172, built 1957 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8509B · registry record · serial 36209
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff from a grass/dirt runway, the airplane encountered tailwind gusts and had a long ground roll. After the airplane became airborne and cleared the end of the runway, a noticeable degradation of performance was observed. The stall warning horn began to buzz, and the airplane started to descend. While maneuvering the airplane to avoid obstacles, the airplane continued to descend. He performed a forced landing resulting in substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A weather observation station located about 30 miles south; reported that, about 20 minutes after the accident, the wind was variable at 3 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The airplane was taking off from runway 3.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,800 hours in all; 118.2 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 6,500 as pilot in command; 450 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 18, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,109.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 11, 2021; 15.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-330A (piston); 1,863 hours total
The flight
- Destination: U88 Garden Valley ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 2,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 am from KSNT, 33 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSNT 141851Z AUTO VRB03G25KT 12/02 A3027 RMK AO1 SLP204 T01220022
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 9, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Damage Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.