Piper PA-23-250 accident near Arco, Idaho, July 7, 1994
On July 7, 1994 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N5919Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arco, Idaho (Arco airport). 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 DIVERSION OF HIS ATTENTION OF CONTROLLING THE AIRPLANE WHICH LED TO HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT THE CABIN DOOR WAS CLOSED AND LOCKED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1994 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Arco, Idaho · Arco · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5919Y · no longer on the register · serial 27-3076
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT ABORTED THE FIRST TAKEOFF DURING THE GROUND RUN DUE TO A LOSS OF POWER TO THE LEFT ENGINE. THE PILOT RETURNED AND COMPLETED A RUN-UP, THEN TOOK OFF AGAIN. AFTER THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF, IT BANKED RIGHT AND LEFT SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME THE AIRPLANE BANKED RIGHT, THE CABIN DOOR CAME OPEN. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF AND ATTAINED AN ALTITUDE OF 300 FEET WHEN THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY AND STEEPLY TURNED LEFT AND DESCENDED TO THE LEVEL OPEN TERRAIN. THE RIGHT SIDE CABIN DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM WAS FOUND IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION, WITH THE LOCKING PINS RETRACTED. A FUEL MANIFOLD VALVE DIAPHRAGM ON THE LEFT ENGINE WAS FOUND TORN.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,576 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,502 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,767 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 24, 1994; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-J4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BYI Burley ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 49 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.