- Date
- September 16, 2012, 19:45 local (Sep 17, 2012, 01:45 UTC)
- Place
- Emmett, ID
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5196HPiper PA-14
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20120916020089A
- Case key
- 85097
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 maintain clearance from terrain.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to show his passengers the local area. They departed from the airport and proceeded north. Shortly after sunset, the pilot reversed course to return to the airport. During the return flight, he realized that he had turned into the incorrect canyon and was unable to outclimb the rising terrain; subsequently, the pilot initiated a precautionary landing onto a hillside. During the landing, the right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to show his passengers the local area. They departed from the airport and proceeded north. Shortly after sunset, the pilot reversed course to return to the airport. During the return flight, he realized that he had turned into the incorrect canyon and was unable to out climb the rising terrain; subsequently, the pilot initiated a precautionary landing onto a hillside. During the landing, the right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5196H
- Reported as
- Piper PA-14
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 14-493
- Airframe hours
- 3,782
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290 SERIES, 140 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Taylor Donald L
- Registered owner
- Taylor Donald L
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 1, 2012 · 171 hours before
- Departed
- S78 · Emmett, ID
- Destination
- S78 · Emmett, ID
- Airport
- S78 · Emmett Municipal Airport
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
- 78
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 24, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 35,000 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 150 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- EUL, 30 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 763 KB in all.
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 N5196H · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.