- Date
- October 25, 1992, 10:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place
- Lowman, ID
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N3743MPiper PA-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921025043279A
- Case key
- 42922
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance. Factors include mountainous/hilly terrain, trees, and the pilot's diverted attention.
Analysis
The pilot of the Piper PA-12 spent about 45 minutes maneuvering at low level in and around steep canyons in the rough mountainous terrain. He then landed at the remote forest service airstrip, and spent about an hour on the ground. After departure from the airstrip, the aircraft was observed flying less than 50 feet above treetop level along an uneven forested ridge. Witnesses indicated that, although they lost sight of the aircraft behind some trees about five seconds prior to the accident, the engine sounded as if it was running smoothly, and at or near full power, until they heard the noise from the impact.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3743M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-2678
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A3B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Harpham, Samuel E.
- Registered owner
- Harpham, Samuel E.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 2, 2000 · 9 hours before
- Departed
- U45 · Graham Airstrip, ID
- Destination
- BOI · Boise, 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
- 30
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 4,800 total · 200 in this make and model · 192 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3743M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.