- Date
- July 14, 1991, 11:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place
- Driggs, ID
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N501FLPiper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 8, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910714027399A
- Case key
- 41327
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 poor inflight decision and his improper compensation for wind. Factors were rising, mountainous terrain; high, gusty winds; and a high density altitude.
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
Even though a local CFI attempted to discourage him from doing so, the Piper PA-28-140 pilot departed the uncontrolled airport, with the aircraft near certified gross weight, when the density altitude was over 10,000 MSL. Widely scattered towering thunderstorms were building in the area, as the pilot attempted to climb through a narrow mountain valley. Winds at the time of the accident were reported to be greater than 20 knots, with higher gusts and rapidly changing direction. Just after passing the entrance to the valley the aircraft impacted the terrain at 7000 feet MSL.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N501FL
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7125320
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E3D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Jim Fields
- Registered owner
- Jim Fields
- Departed
- U59 · Driggs, ID
- Destination
- U42 · Salt Lake City, UT
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 44
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 100 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.