# Accident 20111129027469A: Piper PA-32RT-300T, Hailey, ID, November 29, 2011 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: November 29, 2011, 18:55 local time - Place: Hailey, ID - Airport: Friedman Memorial - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 43.3381° N, 114.2192° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3381&lon=-114.2192&mi=10 - Aircraft: N36824, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36824-2012-01-26) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-32RT-300T (registry code 7103216, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300T - Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 2 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 2,050 total, 1,400 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA048) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111129027469A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. AT APPOXIMAELY 1845 HRS. LOCAL N36824 A PA-32RT-300T WAS CLEARED TO TAXI WAY BROVO AND RUNWAY 13.THE TAXI TO THE END OF THE RUN WAS UNEVENTUL. N36824 WAS CLEARED FOR TAKE OFF FROM SUN RUNWAY 13. ALTIMETER WAS 3020, WINDS 310 @ 6, SKIES CLEAR, TEMP. 2, DEWPOINT -2. THE PILOT POSITIONED THE AIRCRAFT ON RUNWAY 13 AND INITIATED A TAKE OFF ROLE WITH THE AIRCRAFT BECOMING AIRBORNE AROUND MID FIELD. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE AUTOPIOT IN HEADING MODE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE HEADING BUG WAS POSITIONED ON RUNWAY HEADING. THIS WAS CONFIRMED LATER DURING THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION. FOR UNKNOWN REASONS THE AUTOPILOT DID NOT ENGAGE IN THE HEADING MODE. THE PILOT BECAME DISTRACTED WITH THE AUTOPILOT AND NAVIGATION SYSTEMS AT THIS POINT AND DID NOT REALIZE THE AIRCRAFT WAS NO LONGER ON RUNWAY HEADING AND WAS TURNING TO THE SOUTHEAST TOWARDS THE RISING TERRAIN. ATC QUESTIONED THE AIRCRAFTS HEADING AND ASKED IF HE WAS ENTERING THE DOWN WIND. THE PILOT REPLIED "NO I'M TURNING TO STRAIGHT OUT". ATC ASKED THE PILOT IF HE REQUIRED ASSISTANCE. THE PILOT REPLIED "NO, BUT THANKS". NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN N36824 AND THE HAILEY TOWER WERE SUCCESSFUL. MOMENTS LATER THE PASSENGER AND PILOT SEE TERRAIN ILLUMINATED BY THE LANDING LIGHT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTS CORRECTIVE ACTIONS BUT REALIZES THE TAWS DISPLAY ON THE GARMIN 496 WAS COMPLETELY RED. THE PILOT FELT THERE WAS NO WAY TO ESCAPE THE RISING TERRAIN AND DECIDED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONFIGURED WITH GEAR DOWN, 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER TO AN ESTIMATED 65 KNOTS. HE THEN MADE CONTACT WITH THE RISING TERRAIN WITH THE NOSE GEAR, THEN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR, RIGHT MAIN GEAR AND RIGHT WING TIP. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SKIDDED APPROXIMATELY 210 FEET UP HILL AND CAME TO REST IN A SADDLE BETWEEN TWO PEAKS.THE TWO CCUPENTS WERE ABLE TO CONTACT EMERGENCY SERVICES WITH A CELL PHONE. THE 911 TAPE FROM THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED THAT THE PILOT THOUGHT HE HAD CRASHED IN THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SOUTHWEST. HOWEVER, THE CRASH OCCURED IN THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SOUTHEAST. THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE THEN PICKEDUP BY A LIFE LIGHT HELICOPTER APPROXIMATELY 35 MINUTES LATER WHEN IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THE TERRAIN AND CONDITIONS WOULD PRECLUDE A GROUND RESCUE. THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES TO HIS LEFT HAND AND BACK. THE FEMALE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A SERIOUS LACERATION ON HER FOREHEAD AND A COMPRESSION INJURY TO HER BACK REQUIRING SUBSTANTIAL HOSPITILIZATION. ## 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 WPR12LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA048), Nov 30, 2011: Piper PA-32RT-300T (N36824), Hailey, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain course heading and terrain clearance because he was distracted by efforts to engage the autopilot shortly after takeoff on a dark night in mountainous terrain. ## Other reports on N36824 (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19790805029429I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790805029429I), Aug 5, 1979: Piper PA32RT300T (N36824), New Bedford, MA, Minor damage. Bird strike to wing during landing phase. 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.