Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Saint Charles, Idaho 83272
Friday, August 7, 2009 11:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot was on a visual flight rules personal cross-country flight during day visual meteorological conditions near mountainous terrain. Witnesses along the route of flight reported observing the airplane overfly their position at a low altitude on a course towards the accident site. There were no known witnesses to the accident sequence. The accident site was in an open area surrounded by rising terrain in three of the four quadrants. Examination of the wreckage revealed that impact damage signatures on the wings were consistent with right wing low impact with terrain. The fuselage, wings, and most of the empennage were consumed by a post-impact fire. No evidence of any pre impact mechanical anomalies was discovered with the engine or airframe. Using reported weather conditions near the accident site and the accident site elevation, the density altitude was calculated to be about 10,706 feet mean sea level. Toxicology testing on the pilot was positive for an unspecified amount of Famotidine within the blood and urine. Famotidine is an acid-reducing medication, used to treat heartburn or ulcer disease and is available through prescription or over the counter. Famotidine is commonly known by the trade name Pepcid.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/7/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Saint Charles
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83272
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 420639N
Event Location Longitude 1112319W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1151 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID LGU
Elevation of weather observation facility 4457
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26486
NTSB Notification Source FAA NW Regional Operations Cen
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 15 2010 1:31PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6905B
NTSB Number WPR09FA379
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-4179
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 27 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2578
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name KEVIN CHAMBERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City SHERIDAN
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95681-9709
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name KEVIN CHAMBERS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City SHERIDAN
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95681-9709
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code OGD
Departure City Ogden
Departure State UT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Alpine
Destination State WY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 15 2010 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --