Piper PA-28-140 accident near Caldwell, Idaho, November 14, 2006
On November 14, 2006 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N2390T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Caldwell, Idaho (Caldwell airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning by failing to refuel while en route which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power while on approach to the airport. Rough/uneven terrain was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 2006 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Caldwell, Idaho · Caldwell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N2390T · registry record · serial 28-7225068
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion while on short final to the destination airport. The accident occurred during the final leg of a 335 nautical mile VFR cross-country flight. The pilot stated that after losing power he initiated a forced landing to an open field approximately 1/4 mile short of the runway. The airplane encountered rough/uneven terrain during the landing sequence and sustained substantial damage to the wing assembly. The accident flight was the aircraft's second flight after being topped off with fuel. The first flight commenced on November 13, however, due to deteriorating weather conditions the pilot returned to the departure airport approximately 45 minutes after departure. The aircraft was not refueled prior to the accident flight. The pilot reported the flight took longer than expected due to higher than forecasted headwinds.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 369 in this make and model; 155 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 765 as pilot in command; 37 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,218 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TPH Tonopah NV at 3:55 pm
- Destination: EUL Caldwell ID
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from KEUL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 SEA07LA017.