Piper PA-32-301T accident near Burley, Idaho, September 14, 1984
On September 14, 1984 at about 3:44 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-301T, registered N8160B, was destroyed in an accident near Burley, Idaho (Burley Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 6 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
- September 14, 1984 · about 3:44 pm local time
- Place
- Burley, Idaho · Burley Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 6 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301T · all PA-32-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8160B · no longer on the register · serial 32-8024007
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CLIMBING AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG SURGED TWICE, THEN QUIT. THE PLT REPOSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR, CHECKED THAT THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS 'ON' & RESTARTED THE ENG, THEN STARTED TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE ARPT. HOWEVER, ABOUT 1 MIN LATER, THE ENG LOST POWER AGAIN & AN OFF ARPT LANDING WAS MADE. DURING THE LANDING, THE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT SLID TO A STOP, BUT STRUCK A COW & A SMALL ELECTRIC FENCE BEFORE COMING TO REST. EXAMS OF THE ACFT SYSTEMS WERE MADE, BUT NO REASON FOR THE LOSS OF POWER COULD BE FOUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,691 hours in all; 126 in this make and model; 11,691 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,756 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 15, 1984; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BAM Battle Mountain NV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from BY1, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.