Piper PA-36-285 accident near Hazleton, Idaho, June 20, 1996
On June 20, 1996 at about 3:58 pm local time, a Piper PA-36-285, registered N9970P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hazleton, Idaho (Hazelton Municipal airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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
partial loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). Factors relating to the accident were: high density altitude; the pilot's delay in dumping the entire chemical load, when he first perceived a power loss; and rough/uneven terrain in the emergency landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1996 · about 3:58 pm local time
- Place
- Hazleton, Idaho · Hazelton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-36-285 · all PA-36-285s on the register
- Registration
- N9970P · no longer on the register · serial 36-7560082
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported an approximate 15% reduction in power during the takeoff; however, by that time, the aircraft was at the go/no-go point, and the pilot felt he had sufficient airspeed to continue. Shortly after turning left from the runway heading, the engine surged. The pilot initiated a partial dump of the 200 gallon chemical load, but was unable to achieve a positive climb rate. He then initiated dumping of the remainder of the chemical load, during which, the main landing gear contacted furrows of a plowed field and collapsed, and the aircraft slid to a stop. The density altitude was approximately 5,400 feet at the time. During examination of the engine, no reason was found for the partial loss of power.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,621 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U94 at 3:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,000 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:47 pm from TWF, 17 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.