# Accident 20030826022459A: Piper PA32R300, Warm Lake, ID, August 26, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 26, 2003, 12:09 local time
- Place: Warm Lake, ID
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: In Traffic Pattern-Circling
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.6692° N, 115.6744° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6692&lon=-115.6744&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6126J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6126J-2013-04-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32R-300 (registry code 7103213, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R300
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 1,800 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA03FA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03FA173) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030826022459A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) WITNESSES OBSERVED THE PIPER LANCE MAKE WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN APPROACH TO LANDING AT A U.S. FOREST SERVICE HELIPORT LOCATED IN AN OPEN MEADOW SURROUNDED BY FORESTED TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED ENTERING A DOWNWIND AND TURNING A BASE LEG TO FINAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION IN THE MEADOW. APPROXIMATELY 1/4 TO 1/2 WAY THROUGH THE BASE LEG TURN, THE WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT ABRUPTLY PITCH DOWN AND IMPACT THE FORESTED TERRAIN. BOTH OCCUPANTS AND THE DOG WERE FATALLY INJURED. (AIRCRAFT AND ADDITIONAL PILOT RECORDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME TO COMPLETE THIS RECORD).

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA03FA173](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03FA173), Aug 26, 2003: Piper PA-32R-300 (N6126J), Warm Lake, ID, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during final approach resulting in a stall/spin. Contributing factors were the rapidly rising terrain and trees.

## Other reports on N6126J (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19920724040879I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920724040879I), Jul 24, 1992: Piper PA32R300 (N6126J), Santa Barbara, CA, Minor damage. Lost electrical power on approach. Thought gear was down. Landed gear up. Did not activate emergency extension.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.