Piper PA-28-181 accident near Boise, Idaho, March 13, 1995
On March 13, 1995 at about 2:35 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N4359Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boise, Idaho. 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
FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 1995 · about 2:35 am local time
- Place
- Boise, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N4359Y · registry record · serial 28-8390073
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS EN ROUTE TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT BECAUSE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DETERIORATING ALONG HIS ROUTE FOR HIS INTENDED DESTINATION. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT SWITCHED TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK WHICH RAN OUT OF FUEL A SHORT TIME LATER. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A HIGHWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE MEDIAN.
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: 141 hours in all; 141 in this make and model; 127 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,128 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1995; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S49 Vale OR at 2:30 am
- Destination: SUN Hailey ID
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.