Cessna 340A accident near Priest River, Idaho, June 23, 1990
On June 23, 1990 at about 10:55 pm local time, a Cessna 340A, registered N2703U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Priest River, Idaho (Priest River airport). It was a positioning 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 PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE LANDING APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 1990 · about 10:55 pm local time
- Place
- Priest River, Idaho · Priest River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N2703U · no longer on the register · serial 340A0914
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE WINGS PARTIALLY SEPARATED AT THE ROOT AND DRUG ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE SLID DOWN THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,059 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 6,417 as pilot in command; 676 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,990 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-N13 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Felts Field Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SFF Spokane WA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 1, 2,950 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.