Piper PA28 accident near Bovec, Si, September 1, 2016
On September 1, 2016 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Piper PA28, registered S5DES, was destroyed in an accident near Bovec. 3 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2016 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bovec, Slovenia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 161 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- S5DES · no longer on the register · serial 28-7816048
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 1, 2016, about 1545 coordinated universal time, a Piper PA-28-161, Slovenia-registration S5-DES, was destroyed when it crashed into mountainous terrain near Bovec, Slovenia. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated from Bovec Airfield (LJBO), Bovec, Slovenia, and was destined for Ljubljana Airport (LJLJ), Ljubljana, Slovenia. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Republic of Slovenia. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Service, Republic of Slovenia. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Service, Ministry of Infrastructure Republic of Slovenia Langusova 4 1535 Ljubijana, Slovenia.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.