Piper PA-36-285 N9970P

Summary

On 20 June 1996 at about 15:58 local time, a Piper PA-36-285 registered N9970P, operated by Bob's Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Hazleton, Idaho, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 June 1996 at 15:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Hazleton, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Hazelton Municipal (U94)

Coordinates

42.5810, -114.0695

Aircraft

Piper PA-36-285

Registration

N9970P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Bob's Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA96LA132

Nobody was injured.

partial loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). Factors relating to the accident were: high density altitude; the pilot's delay in dumping the entire chemical load, when he first perceived a power loss; and rough/uneven terrain in the emergency landing area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported an approximate 15% reduction in power during the takeoff; however, by that time, the aircraft was at the go/no-go point, and the pilot felt he had sufficient airspeed to continue. Shortly after turning left from the runway heading, the engine surged. The pilot initiated a partial dump of the 200 gallon chemical load, but was unable to achieve a positive climb rate. He then initiated dumping of the remainder of the chemical load, during which, the main landing gear contacted furrows of a plowed field and collapsed, and the aircraft slid to a stop. The density altitude was approximately 5,400 feet at the time. During examination of the engine, no reason was found for the partial loss of power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.