Piper PA-12 accident near Horseshoe Bend, ID
On September 9, 1997, a Piper PA-12 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Horseshoe Bend, ID. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 9, 1997
- Place
- Horseshoe Bend, ID
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 43.920°N, 116.169°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08923
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 9, 1997, at about 1115 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N3637M, registered to the pilot, and operated as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with power lines while maneuvering through a valley near Horseshoe Bend, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire and the airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The flight had originated from a private airstrip in a wilderness area located about 30 miles east of Cascade, Idaho, about one hour prior to the accident. Another pilot who was flying in a similar make and model aircraft behind the accident airplane witnessed the accident. The witness reported that they had originally taken off from Caldwell, Idaho, at about 0730 that morning to fly the approximate one-hour flight to a private airstrip called Sulphur Creek, for breakfast. The witness reported that the flight was uneventful. The witness reported that after breakfast, the two took off with the accident aircraft in the lead, and flew southbound along the Sawtooth Mountains for about 45 miles, then turned west bound towards Idaho City and Horseshoe Bend. The witness reported that the accident airplane entered the canyon (traveling east to west) below the ridge line. The witness stated that he was higher and about one-eighth of a mile behind the lead airplane. The witness estimated that their airspeed was approximately 80 to 90 miles-per-hour and centered in the canyon. The witness reported that there was a tur
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires. The wires were a factor.
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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.
