Piper PA-32R accident near Island Park, Idaho, July 3, 1990
On July 3, 1990 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R, registered N38575, was substantially damaged in an accident near Island Park, Idaho (Henry'S Lake 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
PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHILE ATTEMPTING A SOFT-FIELD TAKEOFF. THE CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1990 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Island Park, Idaho · Henry'S Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R · all PA-32Rs on the register
- Registration
- N38575 · registry record · serial 32R-7780444
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A NOSE-HIGH SOFT-FIELD TAKEOFF FROM THE 4644 FEET MSL GRASS RUNWAY WITH A DIRECT CROSSWIND OF EIGHT TO TEN KNOTS. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED THROUGH A FENCE AT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY & WAS DAMAGED.
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: 238 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 213 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,720 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 16, 1990; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U53 at 2:30 pm
- Destination: JAC Jackson Hole WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,600 ft by 170 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.