Piper PA-28R-200 N3071R

Summary

On 26 July 1996 at about 15:00 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N3071R, operated by Action Flying Service, Inc., was involved in an accident near Libby, Montana, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 July 1996 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Libby, Montana, United States

Coordinates

48.3200, -115.3608

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N3071R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Action Flying Service, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Executive/Corporate

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Coeur D'alene → Libby

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA96FA170

3 people died.

collision with rising mountainous terrain for unknown reason(s).

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot, who had extensive and recent flight experience in corporate jets, received a 15-minute check-out in a single-engine light rental airplane after it was 'topped off' with fuel. The next morning, he boarded two passengers in the airplane and departed on a corporate flight. Ground witnesses observed the airplane flying between 800 and 2,000 feet above a lake and valley, and they heard the engine 'missing' and 'coughing.' The airplane continued to fly in a level attitude into an area of steeply rising terrain toward the destination airport. The airplane impacted trees at an elevation of 5,700 feet msl and burned. The wreckage path was 280 feet in length and pointed toward the airport. The accident site was surrounded by rising terrain on three sides, and the density altitude was computed to be about 6,700 feet. The landing gear was found in the extended position; no determination was made of whether the extension was due to pilot initiation, automatic extension, or initial impact forces. No distress calls from the pilot were reported, and no preimpact mechanical deficiency with the airplane or engine was found.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.