# NTSB SEA93FA010: Piper PA-12, N3743M, Lowman, ID, October 25, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 25, 1992, 10:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place: Lowman, ID
- Coordinates: 44.139839, -115.320159 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1398&lon=-115.3202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42922
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93FA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42922/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93FA010

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS INCLUDE MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY TERRAIN, TREES, AND THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## 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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3743M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3743M-1997-08-04), registration cancelled 1997-08-04, S/N 122678 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12-2678
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19921025043279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921025043279A), Oct 25, 1992: Piper STCPA12, Atlanta, ID, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Following river at low altitude, struck trees five minutes after departing remote strip.

## Other investigations on N3743M (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DEN83LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA079), Mar 13, 1983: Piper PA-12 (N3743M), Coalville, UT, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.