Big Creek Airport: Big Creek, Idaho

Airport is located north east of Big Creek, Idaho.

Airport History

Big Creek Airport Today:  Obstructions reported; Sprinklers on runway; Large Game Animals;

Find Big Creek Airport Services and Amenities:  Seasonal Food and lodging;

Big Creek Airport Special Events & Attractions:  Hunting; Fishing; Hiking;

Accident occurred Saturday, July 26, 2008 in Big Creek, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 9/26/2008
Aircraft: Cessna 182N, registration: N92767
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
The pilot made a landing approach to a remote mountain turf runway. The airplane encountered a downdraft while on short final, which resulted in a sudden drop from about 15 feet, and subsequent hard landing. The landing bent the nose gear forward and damaged the firewall. The pilot made a field repair to hold the nose wheel in place by lashing the nose wheel strut back using rope and a come-along attached to the main landing gear. The pilot then proceeded to fly the airplane to an airport about 30 minutes away, where a mechanic assessed the damage and advised the pilot not to continue the flight. The pilot decided to continue the flight to his home base approximately 454 miles to the southwest. The elevation of the accident airport is 5,720 feet mean sea level (msl). The outside air temperature at the time of the accident was 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The calculated density altitude was 8,238 feet msl at the accident airport.
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On July 7, 2008, about 1115 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20E, N5652Q, was substantially damaged when it struck a parked vehicle during an aborted landing at the Big Creek Airport (U60), Big Creek, Idaho. The private pilot and his passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight that originated from the Mc Call Municipal Airport, Mc Call, Idaho, about 30 minutes prior to the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that upon arriving at U60, he over flew the airport and performed a low altitude pass over runway 19 to observe the condition of the runway. The pilot stated that while landing on runway 19, a 3,550-foot long and 110-foot wide turf runway, he thought the airplane was a little fast and applied power to abort the landing. The pilot added that as he initiated the go-around, the airplane reacted normally but did not gain enough altitude prior to colliding with a parked vehicle about 75-feet beyond the departure end of the runway.

According to United States Forest Service (USFS) Personnel, witnesses adjacent to the accident site observed the airplane land about three-quarters down the runway prior to the pilot applying power and aborting the landing.

Examination of the airplane by USFS personnel revealed that the left and right wing were structurally damaged. The fuselage aft of the cabin area was buckled and twisted. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to colliding with the parked vehicle.

The automated surface observation system at MYL, located about 36 miles southwest of U60 reported at 1050, wind calm, visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 19 degrees Celsius, dew point 07 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.12 inches of Mercury.

Using the reported weather conditions at MYL and a measured field elevation of 5,743 feet mean sea level at U60, the NTSB investigator-in-charge calculated the density altitude to be 7,383 feet.
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On August 4, 2007, about 1100 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N9356K, landed long on runway 01 at the Big Creek (uncontrolled) Airport, Big Creek, Idaho. The airplane overran the departure end of the runway and slid down an embankment. The airplane came to rest on its tail and left wing, and it was substantially damaged. The private pilot, who owned and operated the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Salmon, Idaho, about 1030.

The pilot reported that upon arriving over the airport he observed both windsocks indicating the wind was calm. The pilot reported that he landed about 1/4 of the way down the runway. The pilot did not apply heavy breaking until passing about midfield, but "the deceleration was not sufficient to stop before the end of the runway." According to the pilot, he subsequently walked the airstrip and found tire marks from where he had applied hard braking to the accident site. The distance from the start of the marks to the end of the airstrip was about 1,100 feet. The pilot further reported that no mechanical malfunctions or failures were experienced with his airplane.

The pilot also reported that a witness to the approach (but not his landing) indicated a strong wind blew in a northerly direction as the pilot flew over the airstrip.

Big Creek Airport's runway 01 has a turf surface and is 3,550 feet long. The airport's elevation is 5,743 feet mean sea level.
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On July 12, 2006, approximately 0820 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182B, N2434G, sustained substantial damage subsequent to an in-flight collision with trees during takeoff at the Big Creek Airport, Big Creek, Idaho. The private pilot and both passengers received serious injuries. The airplane was registered to the pilot and was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The pilot's intended destination was Nampa, Idaho.

The pilot reported that during the takeoff and initial climb the airplane drifted to the right of the runway center. The pilot stated that rudder inputs were ineffective and the airplane continued to drift to the right, eventually colliding with trees and terrain along the eastern border of the airfield.

Pictures of the accident airplane during the takeoff roll showed the aircraft in a left crab, right wing-low attitude just as the aircraft broke ground. A second picture showed the aircraft well right of the takeoff runway at an altitude lower than adjacent treetops.

Post accident examination of the wreckage, by representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration Boise, Idaho, Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and Cessna Aircraft revealed no evidence of a pre impact mechanical malfunction or failure.

Big Creek Airport is located in mountainous terrain adjacent to the Frank Church Wilderness area. The airport elevation is 5,743 feet above sea level, and has a single turf runway (01/19), which is 3,550 feet long and 110 feet wide.