Piper PA-28-140 accident near Driggs, Idaho, July 14, 1991
On July 14, 1991 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N501FL, was destroyed in an accident near Driggs, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION AND HIS IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND. FACTORS WERE RISING, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN; HIGH, GUSTY WINDS; AND A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1991 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Driggs, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N501FL · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125320
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
EVEN THOUGH A LOCAL CFI ATTEMPTED TO DISCOURAGE HIM FROM DOING SO, THE PIPER PA-28-140 PILOT DEPARTED THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT, WITH THE AIRCRAFT NEAR CERTIFIED GROSS WEIGHT, WHEN THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS OVER 10,000 MSL. WIDELY SCATTERED TOWERING THUNDERSTORMS WERE BUILDING IN THE AREA, AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB THROUGH A NARROW MOUNTAIN VALLEY. WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE REPORTED TO BE GREATER THAN 20 KNOTS, WITH HIGHER GUSTS AND RAPIDLY CHANGING DIRECTION. JUST AFTER PASSING THE ENTRANCE TO THE VALLEY THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AT 7000 FEET MSL.
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: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: U59 Driggs ID at 5:30 pm
- Destination: U42 Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.