Cessna 172 N52071

Summary

On 1 July 2016 at about 20:00 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N52071 was involved in an accident near Bountiful, Utah, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 July 2016 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Bountiful, Utah, United States

Coordinates

40.0000, -111.8400

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N52071

Category

Airplane

Year built

1980

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bountiful → Bountiful

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA358

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's decision to fly into a canyon without sufficient room to reverse course if necessary, which resulted in an emergency landing, loss of directional control, collision with terrain, and a post-crash fire.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during an "introductory flight" for two passengers, he departed the airport and flew into a canyon where the airplane encountered an "unforeseen immense downdraft". He further reported that he immediately initiated a right turn to exit the canyon but it became clear that a turn was not possible due to the mountainous terrain. Subsequently, the pilot decided to make an emergency landing on a mountain road. After touchdown the airplane skidded off the dirt road and down an embankment. A post-crash fire resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. As a safety recommendation the pilot reported that he should have given himself more altitude before entering the canyon.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.