Cessna 182 N9107X

Summary

On 28 December 1994 at about 04:15 local time, a Cessna 182 registered N9107X, operated by Owyhee County Sheriff, was involved in an accident near Murphy, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 December 1994 at 04:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Murphy, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

43.0809, -116.5191

Aircraft

Cessna 182

Registration

N9107X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Owyhee County Sheriff

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

SEA95LA033

2 people were seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE FROM THE TERRAIN. FACTORS INCLUDE A DARK NIGHT AND A STRONG HEADWIND.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER THE COMPLETION OF AN AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE MISSION, THE PILOT WAS DESCENDING INTO THE AIRPORT OF ORIGINAL DEPARTURE. BECAUSE THIS WAS A DARK NIGHT, AND THERE WERE NO GROUND REFERENCES EXCEPT THE LIGHTS AT A MUNICIPAL BUILDING NEAR THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT USED A LORAN-BASED ALTITUDE/DISTANCE STEP-DOWN PROCEDURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE DURING THE DESCENT. WHILE DESCENDING INTO A 40 KNOT HEADWIND, WITHOUT USING THE LANDING LIGHT, THE PILOT LOOKED INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT TO SET UP FOR THE LANDING. JUST AFTER HE LOOKED INSIDE, THE PASSENGER YELLED THAT THE LIGHTS NEAR THE AIRPORT HAD DISAPPEARED. ABOUT ONE SECOND LATER, AS BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE PULLING BACK ON THE YOKE, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A RIDGE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.