Piper PA-38-112 accident near American Falls, Idaho, July 13, 1985
On July 13, 1985 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N25678, was substantially damaged in an accident near American Falls, Idaho. 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 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
- July 13, 1985 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- American Falls, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N25678 · no longer on the register · serial 38-81A0050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT DEPARTED OGDEN, UT, AT APRX 1130 MDT AND MADE A TOUCH & GO AT BLACK FOOT, ID, AT APRX 135 MDT. THE PLT STATED THE LANDING WAS A LITTLE ROUGH AND DUE TO THE DISTRACTION, HE FORGOT TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS. FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED AT 1345 MDT AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A POTATOE FLD WHERE THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PLT STATED A PRINTED EMERGENCY CHECKLIST WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND HE WAS NOT INSTRUCTED TO MEMORIZE A CHECKLIST FOR ENG FAILURE PROCEDURES WHICH INCLUDES SWITCHING FUEL TANKS.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 37 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 28 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sunwest Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: U05 Blackfoot ID at 7:15 pm
- Destination: TWF Twin Falls ID
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.