Piper PA28-180 accident near Homedale, Idaho, October 14, 1989
On October 14, 1989, a Piper PA28-180, registered N6651J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Homedale, Idaho (Homedale 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
INACCURATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS BY THE PILOT, AND THE PILOT BECOMING LOST OR DISORIENTED WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1989
- Place
- Homedale, Idaho · Homedale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-180 · all PA28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N6651J · no longer on the register · serial 28-3088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT BECAME LOST AND RADIOED FOR A POSITION LOCATION. THE FLIGHT WAS IDENTIFIED SOUTH OF THE INTENDED DESTINATION. THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL AND REQUESTED INFORMATION TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE 300 YARDS SHORT COLLIDING WITH A FENCE AND A DITCH DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE FUEL TANKS WERE INSPECTED AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND WERE FOUND INTACT AND EMPTY OF FUEL.
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: 364 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 336 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Gemini
The flight
- Departed from: TIW Tacoma WA at 8:52 pm
- Destination: ONO Ontario OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 31, 2,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:50 pm from BOI, 31 miles away
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.