Piper PA-46-350P accident near Idaho Falls, Idaho, December 22, 2008
On December 22, 2008 at about 1:26 am local time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registered N379P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Idaho Falls, Idaho (Idaho Falls Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident were the icy runway conditions and a snow bank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 2008 · about 1:26 am local time
- Place
- Idaho Falls, Idaho · Idaho Falls Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-350P · all PA-46-350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N379P · registry record · serial 4636379
- 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 checked the weather information for the arrival airport during the execution of an instrument approach. He stated that the weather report indicated the winds to be light, and that the runway had been plowed and sanded but was covered with light snow and patchy ice. Just after touchdown the airplane began to drift to the left; the pilot then countered with the gradual application of right rudder. The airplane momentarily straightened out, but as the ground speed decreased, the airplane continued the left drift. The airplane then departed the runway and collided with a snow bank causing substantial damage to the firewall.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Snow/ice › Contributed to outcome
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Snow/slush/ice covered › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 19, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 548 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 2008; 548 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,358 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Textron Lycoming TSIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GLD Goodland KS at 10:20 pm
- Destination: IDA Idaho Falls ID
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 02, 9,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 350° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from IAD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.