Thursday, June 30, 2022

Piper PA-20-135 Pacer, N1231C: Fatal accident occurred June 26, 2022 near Lower Loon Creek Airstrip (C53), Challis, Custer County, Idaho

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Boise, Idaho


Location: Challis, Idaho
Accident Number: WPR22LA238
Date and Time: June 26, 2022, 19:45 Local 
Registration: N1231C
Aircraft: Piper PA-20-135 
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On June 26, 2022, about 1945 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-20-135, N1231C, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Challis, Idaho. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

A friend of the pilot reported that he and the accident pilot were camping at Johnson Creek (3U2), Yellow Pine, Idaho. Earlier in the day they had flown to Lower Loon Creek Airstrip (C53), Challis, Idaho, and due to the density altitude, they waited to depart from C53 until later that evening for the return flight to 3U2. He further added that at the time of departure, the density altitude was indicating about 6,200 ft. He observed the accident airplane depart to the north, climb, and then turn back toward the runway about 1930. He last observed the accident airplane on a southbound heading. Shortly after departing from C53, he observed smoke, which he believed to be a small ground fire. After landing and refueling at McCall Municipal Airport (KMYL), he continued his flight to 3U2 where he expected to meet with the accident pilot and passenger. They had not arrived, and he reported N1231C as missing. First responders located the airplane wreckage by air the following day about 1 ½ miles north of C53. On June 28, they accessed the accident site and reported that the airplane had impacted steep rising mountainous terrain at an elevation of about 4,200 ft mean sea level (msl) on an approximate southerly heading. The main wreckage came to rest upright about 30 ft below the first identified point of impact and was mostly consumed by fire. All major structural components of the airplane were observed at the accident site.

The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.


Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N1231C
Model/Series: PA-20-135 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Dusk
Observation Facility, Elevation: KLLJ, 5040 ft msl 
Observation Time: 19:55 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 32 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C /-2°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.21 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Challis, ID (C53)
Destination: Yellow Pine, ID (3U2)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: Fire at unknown time
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 44.822667,-114.82533

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290. 

Aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances. 

Date: 27-JUN-22
Time: 01:45:00Z
Regis#: N1231C
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA20
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Total Fatal: 2
Flight Crew: 1
Pax: 1
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
City: CHALLIS
State: IDAHO

Beech A36 Bonanza, N44ZM: Incident occurred June 29, 2022 at Perryville Regional Airport (KPCD), Perry County, Missouri

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; St. Louis, Missouri

Aircraft landed gear up.  


Date: 29-JUN-22
Time: 16:00:00Z
Regis#: N44ZM
Aircraft Make: BEECH
Aircraft Model: A36
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: PERRYVILLE
State: MISSOURI

Piper PA-32RT-300 Lance II, N4321M: Incident occurred June 29, 2022 at Pilots Ridge Airport (03NC), Carolina Beach, New Hanover County, North Carolina

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Greensboro, North Carolina

Aircraft aborted takeoff, ran off the runway and went into a retention pond. 


Date: 29-JUN-22
Time: 15:43:00Z
Regis#: N4321M
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA32RT
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 91
City: CAROLINA BEACH
State: NORTH CAROLINA

Van's RV-7A, N358MG: Incident occurred June 29, 2022 at Weltzien Skypark Airport (15G), Wadsworth, Medina County, Ohio

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Cleveland, Ohio

Aircraft on landing, ran through guardrail and flipped over.


Date: 29-JUN-22
Time: 19:00:00Z
Regis#: N358MG
Aircraft Make: VANS
Aircraft Model: RV7
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: MINOR
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: WADSWORTH
State: OHIO

Van's RV-6A, N18390: Incident occurred June 19, 2022 at Paradise Air Haven Airport (39OK), Goldsby, McClain County, Oklahoma

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Aircraft ran off runway into trees. 


Date: 19-JUN-22
Time: 20:00:00Z
Regis#: N18390
Aircraft Make: VANS
Aircraft Model: RV6
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: GOLDSBY
State: OKLAHOMA

AMS-Flight Carat A, N30PF: Incident occurred June 29, 2022 at Morrisville-Stowe State Airport (KMVL), Lamoille County, Vermont

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Portland, Maine

Motorglider landed gear up. 

PSF Associates LLC


Date: 29-JUN-22
Time: 19:03:00Z
Regis#: N30PF
Aircraft Make: AMS FLIGHT
Aircraft Model: CARAT A
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: MORRISVILLE
State: VERMONT