# NTSB SEA86FA098: Piper PA-32-301T, N82238, Fort Hall, ID, April 10, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 10, 1986, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Fort Hall, ID
- Coordinates: 43.039016, -112.529014 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0390&lon=-112.5290&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40279
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA86FA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40279/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86FA098

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - wing,spar - overload
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

RADAR TRACK SHOWED ACFT MADE NORMAL CLIMB ON COURSE FROM AIRPORT (ELEV 4488 FT MSL) TO 9400 FT. MSL, THEN EXECUTED A LEFT TURN OF ABOUT 90 DEGREES, CLIMBING TO 9700 FT MSL AS SHOWN BY NEXT-TO-LAST RADAR TGT. 29 SECS LATER, FINAL RADAR TGT SHOWED 6900 FT MSL. WITNESSES SIGHTED ACFT SPINNING WITH PIECES COMING OFF BEFORE STRIKING GROUND. WEATHER STUDY INDICATED CONVECTIVE CLOUDS IN AREA FROM 2000 FT TO 10000 FT MSL. INVESTIGATION REVEALED RT WING AND EMPENNAGE SEPARATED IN AERODYNAMIC OVERLOAD FAILURE MODE. MAX DESIGN MANEUVERING SPEED CALCULATED TO BE 123 KNOTS AT EXISTING ACFT WEIGHT. CIRCUMSTANCES INDICATE PLT LOST CONTROL OF ACFT WHILE MANEUVERING TO AVOID/REVERSE COURSE OUT OF CLOUDS, OVERSTRESSED AIRFRAME DURING RECOVERY ATTEMPT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82238](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82238-1989-03-21), registration cancelled 1989-03-21, S/N 328024025 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-301T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-301t) (registry code 7103209) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-8024025
- Airframe hours: 807
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lonny Van Orden
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 1985, 34 hours before
- Departed: U02, BLACKFOOT, ID
- Destination: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 366 total, 182 in this make and model, 277 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIH, 14 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19860410010769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860410010769A), Apr 10, 1986: Piper PA32301T, Fort Hall, ID, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Climbed from VFR conditions into clouds. Lost control in the climb. Sustained in flight breakup and ground impact.

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.

---
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.