Emmett Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Emmett, Idaho 83617
Sunday, September 16, 2012 19:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to show his passengers the local area. They departed from the airport and proceeded north. Shortly after sunset, the pilot reversed course to return to the airport. During the return flight, he realized that he had turned into the incorrect canyon and was unable to outclimb the rising terrain; subsequently, the pilot initiated a precautionary landing onto a hillside. During the landing, the right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/16/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1945
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Emmett
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83617
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 440223N
Event Location Longitude 1162252W
Event Location Airport Emmett Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID S78
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 15
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2350
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1935 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 205
Weather Observation Facility ID EUL
Elevation of weather observation facility 2432
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KEUL 160135Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 27/04 A2999 RMK AO1
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30689
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2012 3:06PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5196H
NTSB Number WPR12CA429
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-14
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 14-493
Certified Max Gross Weight 1850
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
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 Feb 1 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 171
Airframe Hours 3782
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name TAYLOR DONALD L
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City EMMETT
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83617-0694
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name TAYLOR DONALD L
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City EMMETT
Operator State ID
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 83617-0694
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 S78
Departure City Emmett
Departure State ID
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1540
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code S78
Destination City Emmett
Destination State ID
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2012 3:06PM
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 --