20050827020609A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-14 · Challis, ID · August 27, 2005

Date: August 27, 2005
Place: Challis, ID
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N5104H
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA05FA181
Reported as: Piper PA14
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Pilot’s flight hours: 17,000 total

N5104HRegistration cancelled Feb 21, 2006 · Piper PA-14S/N 14-109 · Built 1948 Airframe modelPiper PA-14 Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) According to family, the pilot and passenger were conducting aerial spotting of bighorn sheep in preparation for the upcoming hunting season. Propeller damage indicates engine was producing significant power at impact. No indications of pre-impact mechanical discrepancies noted during accident investigation. Aircraft was significantly consumed by post-impact fire. The aircraft impacted terrain in a nose low, right turn attitude. Family members have stated that they believe the aircraft and pilot logbooks were on board the aircraft at the time of the accident. As a result, the aircraft total time and pilot flight time information is not available. This pilot is well known to inspectors from this office to be a high time pilot/instructor, and a seasoned back country mountain aviator. At the time of his last medical on 06/22/2005, he reported a total flight time of 17000 hours. Autopsy results pending.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ACCORDING TO FAMILY, THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE CONDUCTING AERIAL SPOTTING OF BIGHORN SHEEP IN PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING HUNTING SEASON. PROPELLER DAMAGE INDICATES ENGINE WAS PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT POWER AT IMPACT. NO INDICATIONS OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES NOTED DURING ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. AIRCRAFT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY CONSUMED BY POST-IMPACT FIRE. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN IN A NOSE LOW, RIGHT TURN ATTITUDE. FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE STATED THAT THEY BELIEVE THE AIRCRAFT AND PILOT LOGBOOKS WERE ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. AS A RESULT, THE AIRCRAFT TOTAL TIME AND PILOT FLIGHT TIME INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS PILOT IS WELL KNOWN TO INSPECTORS FROM THIS OFFICE TO BE A HIGH TIME PILOT/INSTRUCTOR, AND A SEASONED BACK COUNTRY MOUNTAIN AVIATOR. AT THE TIME OF HIS LAST MEDICAL ON 06/22/2005, HE REPORTED A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 17000 HOURS. AUTOPSY RESULTS PENDING.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB SEA05FA181Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportChallis, IDThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and the subsequent inadvertent stall/spin to the ground. A contributing factor was the pilot's diverted attention while spotting/locating Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep.Aug 27, 2005 · Destroyed

Other reports on N5104H · 1

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

Incident 19881005068519IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Challis, IDRight landing gear collapsed on rollout. Found right wheel hub had separated from wheel. Veered off runway.Oct 5, 1988 · Minor damage