Piper PA-28-140 accident near Homedale, Idaho, September 3, 2003
On September 3, 2003 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N15367, was substantially damaged in an accident near Homedale, Idaho (Homedale Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power during descent due to a failed cylinder head.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2003 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Homedale, Idaho · Homedale Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N15367 · registry record · serial 28-7325048
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane's engine developed an uncharacteristic vibration while in a cruise flight configuration. The pilot stated that he diverted to a nearby airport and shortly after entering a downwind for the intended runway, the engine "quit." The pilot stated he turned directly toward runway 31 after the engine failure. Shortly after completing the turn to final, the pilot landed on the intended runway. The pilot reported that the airplane "...hit very hard." It was later discovered that the pilot's seat collapsed as a result of the hard landing. Examination of the aircraft's engine revealed a fracture in the number four cylinder head. The full thickness fracture emanated from the top sparkplug hole and traveled the circumference of the cylinder, terminating at the bottom sparkplug hole. The metallurgical examination of the cylinder revealed that the cylinder head fractured due to fatigue. The exam report indicated that multiple fatigue failure initiation sites were observed, most notably a series of cracks that initiated at each of the two sparkplug holes. Maintenance records indicated that the failed cylinder was repaired due to valve pitting. Following the repairs, the cylinder was returned to service. At the time of the repairs, the engines total time was 6,689 hours; 726 hours since major overhaul. The cylinder total time since manufacture could not be determined. At the time of the accident, the engine total time was approximately 7,260 hours; 1,319 hours since major overhaul.
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: 350 hours in all; 190 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 282 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 25, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,537 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 14, 2002; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ONO Ontario OR at 2:00 pm
- Destination: S66 Homedale
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 31, 2,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 SEA03LA183.