NTSB Factual Report

On August 18, 2018, about 1150 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182Q airplane, N84CP, was substantially damaged during a forced landing about 2 nautical miles north-northwest of Flying B Airstrip (121D), Salmon, Idaho. The airline transport pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was registered to Gripnet Inc. and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from 121D about 1145 and was destined for McCall Municipal Airport (MYL), McCall, Idaho.

A friend of the accident pilot, who was piloting the airplane in trail, reported that prior to departing he and the accident pilot briefed the departure route. The route was to take off to the north, or downstream of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, then reverse course 180° and proceed upstream toward Indian Creek Airstrip while en route to MYL. The trail pilot reported that after taking off he observed the accident pilot make a left 90° turn to the west and proceed up Short Creek, rather than the previously briefed 180° turn. He subsequently radioed the accident pilot and asked, "Where are you going?" The accident pilot replied, "I'm going down." The trail pilot reported that prior to impact the airplane was very slow, was headed upstream (west) in the middle of Short Creek, there was no excessive wing rocking, and the airplane was being held perfectly still as it impacted the top of a stand of trees. The trail pilot mentioned that the airplane came rest intact and oriented in a westerly direction up canyon. The trail pilot added while he was in a 360° turn orbiting the area, he observed a fire on the left side of the airplane; the airplane was subsequently consumed.

The airplane was recovered to a secured facility for further examination.