Piper PA-12 accident near Idaho Falls, ID
On January 21, 1994, a Piper PA-12 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Idaho Falls, ID. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- January 21, 1994
- Place
- Idaho Falls, ID
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 43.520°N, 112.269°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X00680
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 21, 1994, approximately 1615 mountain standard time (MST), a Piper PA-12, N7805H, impacted the terrain about 12 miles northeast of Idaho Falls, Idaho. The certificated flight instructor received fatal injuries, his passenger received serious injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident, had departed Fanning Field, Idaho Falls, Idaho, about one hour earlier. No flight plan had been filed, and the ELT, which was activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene. According to witnesses, the CFI and one of his students returned to the airport after finishing an instructional flight. After parking the aircraft, the CFI found that his next student had canceled. He therefore invited the student whom he had just finished instructing to accompany him on a pleasure flight around the local area. She accepted his offer, and then switched seats with the instructor, who had been in the back seat while giving instruction. The aircraft departed Fanning Field and proceeded to the east about 1515 MST. The next reported sighting of the aircraft was by a witness who saw it near Blacktail Park (see map) about 1600. This witness reported that the aircraft was coming from the south, and was just above ground level "...barely missing the sagebrush." He said that as the aircraft approached the rim of the plateau surrounding Ririe Reservoir, the engine sounded as if it was brought back to idle. Then the aircraft dove over the edge and drop
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TERRAIN. FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION TO ATTEMPT LOW LEVEL MANEUVERS IN A NARROW CANYON.
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Browse: Idaho · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
