Piper PA-28-140 N501FL
14 July 1991 · Driggs, Idaho, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 14 July 1991 at about 17:50 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N501FL, operated by JIM Fields, was involved in an accident near Driggs, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Driggs, Idaho, United States
- Coordinates
- 43.7303, -111.2209
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140
- Registration
- N501FL
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- JIM Fields
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Driggs → Salt Lake City
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA91FA170
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-28 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Hibbing, Minnesota, United States | WM. & Audrey Svigel | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Oct 1991 | Piper PA-28 | Berryville, Arkansas, United States | Snider, Richard D. | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Nov 1991 | Piper PA-28-161 | Greeley, Colorado, United States | P.c. Flyers | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-28-180 | Old Bridge, New Jersey, United States | Martin Sade | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jan 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Titusville, Florida, United States | Achord, Marvin L. | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Dec 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Yuma, Colorado, United States | Aero Training of the Rockies | No injuries | - |
All 9,402 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Apr 1991 | Cessna 172H | Coeur D'alene, Idaho, United States | Charles S. Parnell | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Apr 1991 | Luscombe 8A | Clark Fork, Idaho, United States | Paul F. Clock | No injuries | - |
| 14 May 1991 | Grumman G-164A | Lapwai, Idaho, United States | Schumacher Agri-Flite, Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Jun 1991 | Cessna C-182A | Buhl, Idaho, United States | Ivan A. Schroeder | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jun 1991 | Cessna 180G | Challis, Idaho, United States | Maxl Willis | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1991 | Let L-13 | Driggs, Idaho, United States | James Ball & Eric Soyland | No injuries | - |