NTSB Identification: SEA08FA116A
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, May 02, 2008 in McCall, ID
Aircraft: Cessna 172N, registration: N75856
Injuries: 3 Fatal, 1 Serious, 2 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On May 2, 2008, about 1950 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172, N4008F, and a Cessna 172N, N75856, collided in-flight over the approach end of runway 34 at McCall Municipal Airport, McCall, Idaho. Both airplanes were destroyed in the collision, uncontrolled descent, and postcrash fire. Of the four occupants aboard the 172, the private pilot and two passengers were killed, and the third passenger received serious injuries. The commercial pilot and passenger aboard the 172N sustained minor injuries. The 172 was operated by the owner/pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight originated from Caldwell Industrial Airport, Caldwell, Idaho, approximately 45 minutes prior to the accident and was returning to McCall, where the airplane was based. No flight plan was filed. The 172N was operated by Felts Field Aviation of Spokane, Washington, under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The VFR personal cross-country flight originated from Felts Field Airport in Spokane approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to the accident. A VFR flight plan was in effect. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

In a written statement, the pilot of the 172N reported that he entered a left downwind from a 45-degree angle at 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl). He made a radio call as he entered the traffic pattern, and then he powered the engine down when the airplane was abeam the numbers. He then added 10 degrees of flaps, turned to the base leg, and transmitted his position. The pilot turned onto the final leg and indicated that he intended to "land long." Approximately 30 feet above the runway he started a flare and this was immediately followed by the collision.

Both airplanes came to rest on the west shoulder of runway 34 approximately 1,737 feet north of the landing threshold. The airplanes sustained extensive fire and impact damage.

McCall Municipal Airport is located in a valley at a reported elevation of 5,024 feet and is surrounded by rising mountainous terrain. The airport has two hard-surfaced asphalt runways, 16/34 magnetic. Runway 34 is 6,108 feet long and 75 feet wide and is equipped with a three degree 4-box visual approach slope indicator (VASI).

The airport is not serviced by an air traffic control tower. The common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) for the airport is 122.8.