- Date
- November 17, 1988, 02:30 local (09:30 UTC)
- Place
- Idaho Falls, ID
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Unknown
- Aircraft
- N1963PPiper PA-18
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report September 11, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 40957
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Analysis
Plt reportedly stole acft and departed about midnight in snowstorm. For 3 hours he buzzed local residences vehicles until fuel exhaustion. Forced lndg made in rough field. Investigation revealed plt had long history of mental illness and had falsified medical certificate application data.
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.
Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical
Stolen aircraft/unauthorized useFactor
Other psychological conditionFactor
Fluid,fuel - exhaustionCause
In-flight planning/decision - improperCause
Procedures/directives - disregardedFactor
Forced landing
In flight collision with terrain/water
Terrain condition - rough/unevenFactor
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - obscurationFactor
Weather condition - snowFactor
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1963P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4180
- Airframe hours
- 4,160
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Linden J. Butikofer, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Linden J. Butikofer
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 16, 1987 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- U11 · Rexburg, ID
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,200 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 400 ft
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- IDA, 5 nm away