Piper PA-46-310P accident near Mountain Home, Idaho, November 22, 1993
On November 22, 1993 at about 8:11 am local time, a Piper PA-46-310P, registered N84PM, was destroyed in an accident near Mountain Home, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL SUICIDE AND IMPAIRMENT FROM CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 1993 · about 8:11 am local time
- Place
- Mountain Home, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-310P · all PA-46-310Ps on the register
- Registration
- N84PM · registry record · serial 46-8408004
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH 'LEWD AND LASCIVIOUS CONDUCT WITH A MINOR.' HE WAS JAILED ON FRIDAY & RELEASED ON BOND ON SATURDAY. DURING A MEETING WITH A FRIEND IN THE PILOT'S CAR ON SUNDAY EVENING, HE WAS DRINKING BEER. THE FRIEND SAID THE PILOT MADE COMMENTS REFERRING TO INTENTIONALLY CRASHING THE AIRCRAFT & THAT 'HE DIDN'T WANT TO DIE, BUT DIDN'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER WAY.' HE HAD A GUN IN THE CAR & TOLD THE FRIEND 'DON'T CALL THE POLICE OR I'LL KILL MYSELF SOONER.' THE PILOT DEPARTED TWIN FALLS AT ABOUT 2230 ON SUNDAY NIGHT IN HIS PA-46. HE FLEW TO BOISE, ID (VIA ELY, NV) BEFORE TURNING BACK TOWARD TWIN FALLS. AFTER PASSING OVER BOISE, INTERMITTENT RADIO CONTACT WAS MADE BETWEEN THE AIRPLANE & APPROACH CONTROL. RADAR VECTORS & DESCENT WERE ISSUED. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST DURING DESCENT & PILOT ANNOUNCED DESCENDING THRU 11,000'; 38 SEC LATER, HE REPORTED AT 6000'. GROUND IMPACT WAS AT 4650'. TOXICOLOGY TESTS OF THE PILOT'S LUNG & MUSCLE TISSUE SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 175 & 117 MG/DL (0.175% & 0.117%). NO PREIMPACT FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,915 hours in all; 457 in this make and model; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 9, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-BE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TWF Twin Falls ID at 5:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 am from MUO, 18 miles away
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.