- Date
- July 20, 1989, 17:25 local (23:25 UTC)
- Place
- Meridian, ID
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3700PPiper PA-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890720024209A
- Case key
- 41052
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 failure to properly position the fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation, his failure to follow the emergency procedure, and his inadequate visual lookout (failure to see & avoid obstructions). The power line was a related factor.
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
The plt rprtd he had been having some trouble with a magneto & was going to fly the acft to emmett, Idaho for additional maintenance. While en route at 2000 AGL, the eng lost power. The plt began an emergency landing on a dirt road. However, just before landing, the acft hit a power line & crashed. An inspn of the acft revealed the fuel selector was positioned to the right tank, which was empty. The plt stated that he was so aware of a possible magneto problem that he did not think to switch fuel tanks.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3700P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-3416
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert H. Elton
- Registered owner
- Unknown
- Departed
- S67 · Nampa, ID
- Destination
- S78 · Emmett, ID
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
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 578 total · 175 in this make and model · 578 as pilot in command · 93 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 99 °F, dew point 52 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.