- Date
- July 24, 1994, 16:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place
- Murphy Springs, ID
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N51ARPiper PA-22-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 24, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940724019289A
- Case key
- 28807
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper in-flight decision to maneuver in a canyon at such low altitude that he could not out climb the adjacent rising terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
At the completion of the personal flight, the pilot overflew the destination airstrip while checking the runway for the presence of cattle and other conditions. He then flew over 3 miles away, whereupon he descended into a canyon area near where a hot Springs was located. The pilot observed the canyon walls close to his airplane, and he applied full engine power to climb out of the area. The airplane failed to out climb the rising terrain. He reported turbulence in the area.
Factual narrative
On July 24, 1994, at 1650 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-22- 150, N51AR, collided with trees near the Jarbidge River, on the Nevada side of the Nevada/Idaho border. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot received minor injuries, and the two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Jackpot, Nevada, on July 24, 1994, at 1600.
According to a verbal report the pilot made to the Elko County Sheriff, after the pilot departed the casino in Jackpot, he flew over the Murphy Hot Springs (uncontrolled) Airstrip at a low altitude to inform residents of his arrival. After the overflight, the pilot was unable to gain altitude. While maneuvering in the area, the airplane encountered thermals and collided with trees.
In the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," NTSB Form 6120.1, he indicated that he flew over the destination grass airstrip to check for cattle and runway condition. He did not land. The pilot then flew more than 3 miles away to where Murphy Hot Springs was located at the bottom of a canyon.
The pilot further indicated that while near Murphy's, he realized the airplane would not clear the canyon walls even after full engine power was applied. The local wind was calm, but clear air turbulence was experienced.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N51AR
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-7493
- Airframe hours
- 2,404
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Joshua L. Munger
- Registered owner
- Joshua L. Munger
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 1993 · 153 hours before
- Departed
- 06U · Jackpot, NV
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 23
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 207 total · 153 in this make and model · 174 as pilot in command · 46 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.