- Date
- November 20, 1990, 10:10 local (17:10 UTC)
- Place
- Albion, ID
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4325XPiper PA-34-200T
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 14, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19901120057939A
- Case key
- 41295
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-in-command's failure to maintain control of the airplane in instrument meteorological conditions. Factors which contributed to the accident were the pilot's apprehension of flying in the forecasted weather, and the adverse weather conditions encountered during the flight.
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
During a wx briefing the pilot was briefed that a cold front wx system was moving through the route of flight, with moderate icing in clouds to 16000 ft. the pilot had to return to the ramp after taxiing to takeoff due to a dead battery. As the battery was being recharged, the pilot reportedly seemed apprehensive about the wx conditions and told the mechanic to feel free to write up any discrepancy that would cancel the flight. The pilot also stated he didn't like flying in the kind of weather that was in the area. About 50 minutes after departure that pilot radioed that he was in serious trouble. No further communications were received. The wreckage was located in an area of steep mountainous terrain that rises to over 9000 ft MSL. Evidence showed that the wings and stabilators separated prior to ground impact. Leading edge surfaces of the airplane exibited pitting and abrasion of paint, with areas of paint stripped down to bare metal. Blizzard weather conditions existed at the time.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4325X
- Reported as
- Piper PA-34-200T
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 34-7670025
- Airframe hours
- 8,829
- Engine
- Continental TSI0-360-EB1B, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Regional Express
- Registered owner
- Regional Express
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 26, 1990 · 41 hours before
- Departed
- SLC · Salt Lake City, UT
- Destination
- TWF · Twin Falls, ID
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- 39
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,339 total · 37 in this make and model · 1,052 as pilot in command · 179 in the last 90 days · 41 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 18 knots
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BYI, 12 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.