Piper PA-22-150 accident near Murphy Springs, Idaho, July 24, 1994
On July 24, 1994 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N51AR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Murphy Springs, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO MANEUVER IN A CANYON AT SUCH LOW ALTITUDE THAT HE COULD NOT OUT CLIMB THE ADJACENT RISING TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1994 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Murphy Springs, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N51AR · registry record · serial 22-7493
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE COMPLETION OF THE PERSONAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT OVERFLEW THE DESTINATION AIRSTRIP WHILE CHECKING THE RUNWAY FOR THE PRESENCE OF CATTLE AND OTHER CONDITIONS. HE THEN FLEW OVER 3 MILES AWAY, WHEREUPON HE DESCENDED INTO A CANYON AREA NEAR WHERE A HOT SPRINGS WAS LOCATED. THE PILOT OBSERVED THE CANYON WALLS CLOSE TO HIS AIRPLANE, AND HE APPLIED FULL ENGINE POWER TO CLIMB OUT OF THE AREA. THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO OUT CLIMB THE RISING TERRAIN. HE REPORTED TURBULENCE IN THE AREA.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 207 hours in all; 153 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 174 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,404 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1993; 153 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 06U Jackpot NV at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N51AR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.