Piper PA-32-300 accident near Twin Falls, Idaho, January 29, 1988
On January 29, 1988 at about 7:23 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N4290R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Twin Falls, Idaho (Twin Falls 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).
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
- January 29, 1988 · about 7:23 pm local time
- Place
- Twin Falls, Idaho · Twin Falls · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4290R · registry record · serial 3240666
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE POWER TO DESCEND TO LAND HE WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN A POWER REDUCTION DUE TO THE THROTTLE ROD END SEPARATING IN FLIGHT. THE PILOT MADE A SPIRALLING DESCENT AND THEN SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. THE PILOT MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE REMAINING TO THE RUNWAY AND LANDED 600 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY STRIKING RUNWAY THRESHOLD LIGHTS DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
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
- Flight time: 581 hours in all; 349 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 581 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,966 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1987; 221 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LWL Wells NV
- Destination: TWF Twin Falls ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 8,703 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from TWF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.