Beech D17S and Beech D17S accident near Idaho Falls, Idaho, June 28, 2015
On June 28, 2015 at about 3:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Beech D17S (N114H) and Beech D17S (N16M), were involved in the same accident near Idaho Falls, Idaho (Idaho Falls Rgnl airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
While taxiing as a flight of two, the pilot of the blue Beechcraft became distracted and impacted the red Beechcraft which had stopped.
While taxiing as a flight of two, the pilot of the blue Beechcraft became distracted and impacted the red Beechcraft which had stopped.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2015 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Idaho Falls, Idaho · Idaho Falls Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Beech D17S S, built 1939 · all D17Ss on the register
- Registration
- N114H · registry record · serial 327
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Beech D17S S, built 1944 · all D17Ss on the register
- Registration
- N16M · registry record · serial 6756
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Beech D17S final · quoted from the NTSB record
While taxiing as a flight of two, the pilot of the red Beechcraft stopped his airplane so that he could conduct a run-up of the engine. The pilot of the blue Beechcraft lost visual contact with the red Beechcraft while changing frequencies on his radio and impacted the left aft section of the red Beechcraft, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Both of the pilots reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframes or engines that would have precluded normal operation.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Beech D17S final · quoted from the NTSB record
While taxiing as a flight of two, the pilot of the red Beechcraft stopped his airplane so that he could conduct a run-up of the engine. The pilot of the blue Beechcraft lost visual contact with the red Beechcraft while changing frequencies on his radio and impacted the left aft section of the red Beechcraft, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Both of the pilots reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframes or engines that would have precluded normal operation.
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 for the Beech D17S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot of other aircraft
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,713 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 4,525 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 13, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,590 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 4,250 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985 AN1 (piston); 4,634 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IDA Idaho Falls ID at 2:30 pm
- Destination: IDA Idaho Falls ID
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KIDA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the Beech D17S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,223 hours in all; 1,256 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,851 as pilot in command; 640 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 16, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,680 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 4,250 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IDA Idaho Falls ID at 3:00 pm
- Destination: IDA Idaho Falls ID
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA15CA145.