# NTSB WPR21LA220: Piper PA-24, N6334P, Paris, ID, May 29, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 29, 2021, 12:47 local (18:47 UTC) - Place: Paris, ID · Open field rough terrain - Coordinates: 42.246913, -111.32509 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2469&lon=-111.3251&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103201 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103201/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103201 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA220 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-24, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis On a personal cross-country flight, during cruise, the pilot noted an increase in oil temperature. He made the decision to divert to a nearby airport that was about 3 nautical miles (nm) away. As the pilot made the turn back to the airport, the engine lost total power. During the descent he made several unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine. He did not recall lowering the landing gear but determined that it was safe to do so. He did not lower the flaps or turn on the carburetor heat. About 500 ft above ground level (agl), he realized that he was not going to make the runway and elected to make a forced landing to the surrounding area. During the landing sequence, the airplane impacted a berm and a fence post before it came to rest about 100 ft short of the runway. Postaccident engine examination revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On May 29, 2021, about 1247 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-24, N6334P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Paris, Idaho. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the flight departed from South Valley Regional Airport (U42), Salt Lake City, Utah, with an intended destination to Jackson Hole Airport (KJAC), Jackson, Wyoming. The pilot had the airplane’s fuel tanks topped off at U42 on the day of the accident flight. The preflight, engine start and run up, and departure were normal; they departed from U42 at 1122. The pilot reported that during the flight he navigated around Class B airspace. Near the Primary Childrens Medical Center Heliport (UT08), Salt Lake City, Utah, he contacted Salt Lake Center and requested flight following and activated his previously filed flight plan. The pilot reported that he climbed to his filed flight plan altitude of 9,500 ft mean sea level (msl). Due to turbulence, the flight further climbed to 11,500 ft msl for a brief period; however, due to turbulence, the flight descended back to 9,500 ft msl. The pilot reported that the flight was uneventful, and all engine gauges were normal and in the green, including the oil pressure and temperature. Shortly after passing Bear Lake County Airport (1U7), Paris, Idaho, the engine oil temperature gauge was “registering too high,” but the oil pressure gauge was still in the green. The pilot elected to divert to 1U7 to have the engine inspected. About halfway through the turn toward 1U7, which was about 3 nm away, the engine sustained a total loss of power. The pilot reported that he did not recall the engine surging, just an “immediate drop of RPM and oil pressure.” The propeller continued to turn, but the engine would not engage. The pilot pulled back on the yoke and trimmed for best glide airspeed, which he estimated to be 75 knots. He made several unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine. The pilot stated that he did not remember at what point he lowered the landing gear, but he did recall waiting until he was comfortable lowering the landing gear as part of his final landing “GUMP” checklist. He stated that he did not lower the flaps or activate carburetor heat. About 500 ft agl, he realized the airplane would not make it to the runway. During touchdown, the airplane impacted a berm and fence posts, and came to rest about 100 ft short of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The engine’s crankshaft was rotated by hand utilizing the propeller and mechanical continuity was established throughout the rotating group, valve train, and accessory gear section. Examination of the cylinders with a lighted borescope revealed no anomalies. The magnetos were removed, and manual rotation produced spark at each lead. The fuel pump was internally intact and free of damage. The air inductionlines were free of obstruction. Examination and disassembly of the carburetor revealed no anomalies. Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6334P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6334P-2023-02-18), registration cancelled 2023-02-18, S/N 24-1444, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24 (180) - Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1444 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 6469 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 25, 2021, 47 hours before - Departed: U42, Salt Lake City, UT - Destination: JAC, Jackson Hole, UT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 1U7, Bear Lake County, runway 28, 5,728 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 3, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 257.4 total, 17.1 in this make and model, 183 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Observed at: K1U7 - METAR: METAR K1U7 291900Z AUTO 35004KT 10SM CLR 16/M03 A3012 ## 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 20210529013239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210529013239A), May 29, 2021: Piper PA-24, Paris, ID, Substantial damage. On may 29, 2021, the pilot and passenger were flying from south valley regional airport (U42) to jackson hole airport (jac) at 9,500 in aircraft N6334P. The… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 27, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103201. 11.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - pilot (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15922838&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - owner (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15599070&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Owner-Rel.pdf - NTSB engine examination report (item 3, PDF, 7 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16138823&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Exam%20WPR21LA220%20FINAL-Rel.pdf - Adsb flight track summary (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 411 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16116318&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA220%20Flight%20Track%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 415 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15968132&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=damage%20photos%20WPR21LA220-Rel.pdf - Weather summary (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 313 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16116821&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA220%20WX%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Roc teldredge (NTSB) (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15599080&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Bear lake co sheriff incident report (item 8, PDF, 3 pages, 243 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15599581&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%2021-B0826_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Excerpt aircraft records (item 9, PDF, 11 pages, 506 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15599836&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpt%20Aircraft%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Blackstone analysis report (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15922994&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PostCrashBlackstoneAnalysisReport_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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.