Piper PA-18-150 accident near Yellow Pine, Idaho, July 17, 2005
On July 17, 2005 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N721JW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yellow Pine, Idaho (Vines Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and his failure to maintain directional control after the aircraft's right main gear contacted a small dirt mound during the takeoff roll at the remote grass airstrip. Factors include the pilot's failure to walk the length of the runway during his pre-flight preparation to insure that it was clear of objects, a hidden object on the takeoff surface (the mound), high vegetation on the runway surface, and trees near the side borders of the airstrip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2005 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Yellow Pine, Idaho · Vines Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N721JW · registry record · serial 1809015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll at the remote grass airstrip, the aircraft's right main landing gear hit a mound of dirt created by a burrowing animal, and the aircraft suddenly veered to the right. The pilot applied left rudder to correct the situation, but he was unable to get the aircraft back on takeoff heading prior to it departing the right side of the airstrip surface. Soon after departing the takeoff surface, the aircraft's landing gear rolled over some nearby large rocks, and the right wing impacted a tree that was located near the side of the airstrip. The pilot did not see the dirt mound during the takeoff roll because it was hidden by tall grass/weeds, and he had not walked the length of the 1,100 foot remote runway looking for obstructions prior to takeoff. According to a note in the Idaho Airports Guide, the surface of this runway is rough and subject to ongoing deterioration, and its usage is limited to "highly experienced" mountain pilots.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Yellow Pine ID at 3:30 pm
- Destination: KMYL Mccall ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 1,100 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.