Piper PA-22 accident near Melba, Idaho, June 3, 1994
On June 3, 1994 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N2926Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Melba, Idaho (Sunrise Sky Park airport). It was a personal 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 INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION, AND HIS EXCESSIVE BRAKE APPLICATION. FACTORS INCLUDE IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND A CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 1994 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Melba, Idaho · Sunrise Sky Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N2926Z · no longer on the register · serial 6897
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER FROM A BOUNCED, FULL-STALL LANDING, THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO DRIFT OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THINKING THAT HE MIGHT COLLIDE WITH A NEARBY RESIDENCE, THE PILOT STARTED BRAKING HARD IN ORDER TO STOP. HIS EXCESSIVE BRAKE APPLICATION RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPING OVER. THE PILOT SAID THERE WERE VARIABLE CROSSWINDS 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 183 hours in all; 21 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,109 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 1993; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U35 Caldwell ID at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.