History of Flight
On September 12, 2011, at about 2313 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182H, registration N2404X, impacted terrain approximately three miles southwest of Stanley, Idaho. The private pilot and his passenger sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 in night visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed, and no report of an ELT signal was received.
The pilot departed Salmon, Idaho, about 45 minutes prior to the accident. Earlier that day, the pilot had checked weather information online and discussed his plans with a friend who was also a pilot. He planned to fly to Salmon in the afternoon and return after dark. The friend advised him of thunderstorm reports and reduced visibility due to smoke. The pilot expressed confidence he could avoid storms visually, but the friend cautioned that night conditions would make seeing them difficult. The friend suggested staying overnight and recommended calling Flight Watch before deciding to return.
The flight from Caldwell to Salmon departed between 1830 and 1845. During the en route portion, the pilot contacted Salt Lake Flight Watch and was advised of a convective SIGMET east of Sun Valley and a rain cell northeast of Boise. The pilot deviated north to avoid storms, extending the flight time from about 75 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes. The flight experienced turbulence near clouds but did not pass through rain. After dark, storms were not visible.
After landing at Salmon, the pilot discussed weather with his brother-in-law and two passengers. He then called the friend who had provided earlier weather information, stating visibility was good at the firefighting command post and he planned to take off and head home via Challis, Stanley, Warm Springs, and Lowman. The friend advised staying overnight. The pilot also called another pilot friend, indicating he would take off but turn back if visibility was poor, and would land at Challis if needed.
Radar data showed the pilot departed Salmon about 2230, followed Highway 93 south to Challis, then turned toward Stanley. He reached an altitude of about 13,500 feet but descended to 10,500 feet near Stanley. After passing north of Stanley Airport, he turned right to parallel Highway 21. After about two miles, he entered a left turn, then another tighter left turn, and descended near-vertically into terrain at about 6,600 feet.
A witness heard the airplane circling at low altitude, then a sudden application of full power followed by an impact sound and engine silence.
Personnel Information
The pilot was a 55-year-old male holding a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He did not hold an instrument rating. He had approximately 640 total flight hours, with about 520 hours in the accident make and model, and 105 night hours. He purchased the airplane in 2002 and flew about 35 hours in the 90 days prior to the accident, including 4 night hours. His last FAA third-class medical was issued on June 1, 2010.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was a 1965 Cessna 182H Skylane with an O-470-R engine and a McCauley two-blade propeller. Its last annual inspection was completed on August 8, 2011. At that time, the airframe had 4,951.83 hours, and the engine had 1,458.73 hours since major overhaul. During the annual inspection, cylinder number two was removed for low compression, reconditioned, and reinstalled.
Meteorological Information
Infrared satellite imagery showed solid cloud cover over the accident area, with cloud tops around 21,000 feet. An NTSB senior meteorologist characterized the weather as rain showers moving east to west over mountainous terrain. Radar precipitation was recorded at 17,000 feet over the accident area between 2301 and 2303. The 2251 METAR for Stanley reported calm winds, temperature 11°C, dew point 7°C, altimeter 30.37 inHg.
The witness reported light rain most of the evening, cloud cover, and low mist reducing visibility. A full moon was present but obscured by clouds and rain.
No DUATS or Lockheed Martin Flight Services briefings were provided to the pilot for the accident flight.
Airport Information
Stanley Airport is a combination turf and dirt airstrip without permanent or pilot-activated runway lighting or a rotating beacon. The pilot had previously been to the airport and was aware it was not lighted.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane impacted lightly forested, rocky terrain at 44°12'04"N, 114°59'30"W, about 300 feet south of Iron Creek Road. Initial impact was with three closely spaced trees about 50 feet above ground. The ground impact was nearly vertical. The airplane was extensively fragmented; all primary structures were torn or fractured. The engine separated, and the crankcase fractured. Examination of the engine found no preimpact anomalies that would have prevented the engine from producing rated horsepower. Both propeller blades exhibited S-bending, twisting, scratches, and gouges.
Medical and Pathological Information
Due to the severity of impact, the Ada County Coroner's Office performed an anthropological inspection and analysis, determining the cause of death as blunt force trauma secondary to high-speed impact. No usable toxicology samples were obtainable.