Piper PA-28R-201 accident near Pocatello, Idaho, May 26, 1997
On May 26, 1997 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201, registered N30563, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pocatello, Idaho (Pocatello Regional airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
inadequate remedial action of the pilot-in-command (CFI). Related factors include: the dual student's failure to maintain the proper airspeed and descent rate.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1997 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Pocatello, Idaho · Pocatello Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N30563 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7837314
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the initial climb after takeoff, at about 150 feet above the ground (AGL), the instructor pilot (CFI) reduced the power to idle to simulate a full power failure on takeoff. The rated-student, who was receiving training toward his commercial certificate, did not lower the nose soon enough to maintain proper airspeed. As the airspeed began to decrease, the aircraft's descent rate became excessive. Realizing the descent rate was too great, the CFI pushed the throttle to full power, but did not take control of the aircraft. The student was unable to arrest the descent rate before impacting the runway. The aircraft landed hard enough that the top skin of the right wing was distorted by the landing gear.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 523 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 481 as pilot in command; 121 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,065 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 17, 1996; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PIH ID at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 9,056 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.