Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Lone Pine, Idaho, April 11, 1986
On April 11, 1986 at about 3:10 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N3714T, was destroyed in an accident near Lone Pine, Idaho. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- April 11, 1986 · about 3:10 am local time
- Place
- Lone Pine, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3714T · no longer on the register · serial 23R30018
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER AN INITIAL WEATHER BRIEFING THE PLT DEPARTED COEUR DALENE, IDAHO, FOR HIS DESTINATION OF IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO, WITH A PLANNED PASSENGER PICKUP AT MISSOULA, MONTANA. DURING THE SECOND LEG OF THE FLT HE MISNAVIGATED WHILE AVOIDING WEATHER WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNPLANNED FUEL STOP AT LEWISTON, IDAHO AND A 3 HR DELAY FOR THE OCCUPANTS WHO PLANNED TO ATTEND A POLITICAL FUNCTION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF HIS OBTAINING AN UPDATED WEATHER BRIEFING AFTER THE INITIAL WEATHER BRIEFING. WHILE ENROUTE TO IDAHO FALLS THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED WEATHER CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE PLT REQUESTING INSTRUMENT HANDLING. SHORTLY AFTER THE REQUEST THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH UPSLOPING TERRAIN IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA. DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS EXISTED DURING BOTH THE WEATHER ENCOUNTER AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,099 hours in all; 98 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,399 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 1985; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LWS Lewiston ID at 1:15 am
- Destination: IDA Idaho Falls ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Observation at 2:36 am from SMN, 70 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N3714T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.