# Accident 20120609010639A: Piper PA-32-300, June 9, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 9, 2012, 12:32 local time
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.4244° N, 115.4847° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4244&lon=-115.4847&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8990N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8990N-2017-10-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32-300 (registry code 7103212, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 304 total, 142 in this make and model, 24 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12FA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA255) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120609010639A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AT ROCK SPRINGS, WY (RKS) TO RE-FUEL. AT APPROXIMATELY 1520 ZULU THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ROCK SPRINGS, WY (RKS) TO NAMPA, ID (MAN). THE INTENDED CRUISE ALTITUDE WAS STATED TO BE 11,500' MSL. THE RADAR INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM ATC INDICATED ALTITUDES RANGING FROM 15,500 SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF FROM RKS TO 7,600 JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT PATH WAS RECORDED BY USAF RADAR AND THIS INFORMATION OVERLAID ON A TERRAIN MAP. THIS DATA INDICATED THAT IN THE LAST THREE MINUTES OF FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT ALTITUDE VARIED FROM 6900' MSL TO 7800' MSL. DURING THE LAST 2 MINUTES OF FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT MADE TWO 180 DEGREE TURNS. WHILE MAKING THESE TURNS THE ALTITUDE VARIED FROM 7800' TO 7400' MSL. REPORTED WEATHER IN THE AREA COULD BE THE REASON FOR THE SUDDEN COURSE AND ALTITUDE CHANGES. THE LAST RADAR RETURN WAS 7600' MSL AT 1832 ZULU. THE AIRCRAFT FIRST CONTACTED THE TERRAIN WITH THE RIGHT WING TIP AT 7454' MSL. THE AIRCRAFT THEN CART WHEELED COMING TO REST 265' FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. A POST IMPACT FIRE CONSUMED MOST OF THE FUSELAGE. BOTH WINGS SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE PRIOR TO THE FIRE BUT THE FLIGHT CONTROL CABLES WERE STILL CONNECTED AFTER THE CRASH & POST IMPACT FIRE. SEARCH AND RESCUE REACHED THE CRASH SITE AT APPROXIMATELY 0645 ZULU. THE PHOTO'S SHOWED THAT APPROXIMATELY 2" OF SNOW HAD FALLEN ON THE AIRCRAFT PARTS AND DEBRIS AFTER THE CRASH.

## 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 WPR12FA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12FA255), Jun 9, 2012: Piper PA-32-300 (N8990N), Mountain Home, ID, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The noninstrument-rated pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into mountainous terrain.

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.

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