Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Libby, MT
On July 26, 1996, a Piper PA-28R-200 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Libby, MT. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 26, 1996
- Place
- Libby, MT
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 48.320°N, 115.361°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06355
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 26, 1996, about 0900 mountain daylight time, N3071R, a Piper PA-28R-200, operated by Action Flying Service, Inc. Hayden Lake, Idaho, collided with rising terrain and was destroyed near Libby, Montana. There was a ground fire. The airline transport pilot and his two passengers were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The aerial survey business flight departed from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, about 0840 and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The flight was destined for Libby, Montana. According to the vice president of the Intermountain Forest Industry Association (IFIA), a trade organization, the passengers were employees of the IFIA. The vice president was aware of the itinerary of the accident flight because it was discussed in a staff meeting a few days prior to the accident. The vice president stated that the purpose of the flight was to review and photo-document proposed salvage logging project sites in the Kootnai National Forrest. The vice president understood that the passengers were to hire a pilot and aircraft and fly from Coeur d' Alene direct to an area near the head waters of the Yaak River just south of the Canadian border in Montana. After over-flying the area and taking some photographs of proposed logging project sites, the airplane was to land at Libby and drop off one of the passengers, so that he could attend a meeting of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee held at the U.S. Forest Service office in Libby. A car had been driven to the Libby Airport by the passenger's staff assist
Probable cause
collision with rising mountainous terrain for unknown reason(s).
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Browse: Montana · 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.
