Piper PA-22-160 accident near Bonners Ferry, Idaho, August 12, 1984
On August 12, 1984 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N9050D, was destroyed in an accident near Bonners Ferry, Idaho (Boundary Company airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1984 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Bonners Ferry, Idaho · Boundary Company · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N9050D · no longer on the register · serial 22-6189
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT TOOK OFF WITH 3 ADULT PASSENGERS & A 2 YR OLD CHILD ON BOARD & FLEW APRX 1.3 HRS. JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, HE REPORTED ON A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 20. AS THE PLT CONTINUED THE APCH, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED OVER THE RWY AT APRX 100' AGL, REPORTEDLY AT FULL POWER, BUT WAS MUSHING & LOSING ALTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE CRASHED WEST OF THE DEPARTURE END WHILE ON A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING. TWO FLT INSTRUCTORS REPORTED THAT THE ACFT HAD STALLED OR MUSHED. TWO OTHER WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ENG WAS NOT DEVELOPING POWER WHEN THE PLANE CRASHED. HOWEVER, NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.046%. THE DENSITY ALT WAS ABOUT 4200 FT.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,049 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 1984; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from SFF, 75 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.