Beech A24-R accident near Yellow Pine, Idaho, July 4, 2003
On July 4, 2003 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Beech A24-R, registered N254M, was destroyed in an accident near Yellow Pine, Idaho (Johnson Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance. Factors include trees and mountainous terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2003 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Yellow Pine, Idaho · Johnson Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A24-R · all A24-Rs on the register
- Registration
- N254M · no longer on the register · serial MC-34
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to land at an airstrip located in mountainous terrain shortly before the accident occurred. Witnesses reported that the accident airplane was the lead aircraft of a flight of two. The pilot of the number two aircraft stated that both airplanes approached the destination airport from the North with intentions of landing on runway 17. He reported that he was approximately 1.5 miles in trail of the lead aircraft when the pilot radioed that he was going around. Witnesses on the ground reported that they observed the aircraft do a "standard" go-around and remarked that the engine powered up and the gear was retracting from the extended position during the maneuver. Shortly after the go-around, witnesses reported that they began receiving an ELT signal on a handheld radio that was tuned to 121.5 megahertz. The wreckage was later located in heavily wooded, down sloping terrain approximately four miles south of the airport. The elevation of the accident site was approximately 6,100 feet mean sea level (MSL). The first identified point of contact was a grouping of large conifer trees located near the ridge top, uphill from where the main wreckage came to rest. The airport is located in mountainous terrain. The airport has a single turf runway with an elevation of 4,933 feet above sea level. The State of Idaho Airport Facilities Directory entry for the airstrip states, "special considerations should be given to density altitude, turbulence, and mountain flying proficiency."
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 454 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 392 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 8, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,241 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYL Mc Call ID at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 3U2 Yellow Pine ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from KMYL, 26 miles away
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.
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.