Aviation Crash Map

Cessna 172L N3988Q

24 May 1992 · Colburn, Idaho, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 24 May 1992 at about 23:00 local time, a Cessna 172L registered N3988Q, operated by Harkins, Timber J., was involved in an accident near Colburn, Idaho, United States. 3 people were on board and one died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 23:00
Classification
Accident
Location
Colburn, Idaho, United States
Coordinates
Not recorded
Aircraft
Cessna 172L
Registration
N3988Q
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Harkins, Timber J.
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Troy → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
SEA92FA109

People

1 person died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
3 1 2 0 0

Probable cause

THE PILOT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED, FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE COURSE IN A BOX CANYON, AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE NARROW BOX CANYON, THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, AND THE LACK OF MOUNTAIN FLYING EXPERIENCE BY THE PIC.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED AND INADVERTENTLY ENTERED A BOX CANYON IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. HE ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE COURSE AT THE TOP OF THE NARROW CANYON AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND SLOW AIRSPEED, AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AT 4400 FT MSL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 172 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
11 Nov 1992 Cessna 172M
N13400
Olympia, Washington, United States Center O Flying Club No injuries -
17 Nov 1992 Cessna 172M
N4324R
Vancouver, Washington, United States Tabooma Flyers Inc. Minor injuries -
14 Jan 1992 Cessna 172N
N4885G
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
no coordinates
Thomas Kuehn No injuries -
21 Feb 1992 Cessna 172N
N738YY
Orlando, Florida, United States Flight Express, Inc. No injuries -
4 May 1992 Cessna 172N
N5096E
Parkdale, Oregon, United States Vancouver Aviation No injuries -
18 Jul 1992 Cessna 172N
N4500E
Lake Michigan, Michigan, United States
no coordinates
Battle Creek Air Service, Inc. Fatal 4

All 12,209 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
30 Apr 1992 Cessna 182B
N8409T
Dixie, Idaho, United States Leonard, James A. and Linda K. No injuries -
7 Dec 1992 Bell 47G3-B2A
N58131
Montpelier, Idaho, United States Wood, Brent V. No injuries -
8 May 1992 Aviat A-1
N200HU
Arco, Idaho, United States Bjornson, Donald R. No injuries -
12 Dec 1992 Piper PA-46
N856M
Twin Falls, Idaho, United States David & Patricia Wilson Minor injuries -
13 Dec 1992 Maule M5-180C
N5652W
Garden Valley, Idaho, United States Kurt C. Larson No injuries -
13 Dec 1992 Bellanca 7GCBC
N57659
Arco, Idaho, United States Gregory L. POE No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States