Piper PA-22-150 accident near Saint Charles, Idaho, August 7, 2009
On August 7, 2009 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N6905B, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Saint Charles, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance while maneuvering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2009 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Saint Charles, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N6905B · no longer on the register · serial 22-4179
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was on a visual flight rules personal cross-country flight during day visual meteorological conditions near mountainous terrain. Witnesses along the route of flight reported observing the airplane overfly their position at a low altitude on a course towards the accident site. There were no known witnesses to the accident sequence. The accident site was in an open area surrounded by rising terrain in three of the four quadrants. Examination of the wreckage revealed that impact damage signatures on the wings were consistent with right wing low impact with terrain. The fuselage, wings, and most of the empennage were consumed by a post-impact fire. No evidence of any pre impact mechanical anomalies was discovered with the engine or airframe. Using reported weather conditions near the accident site and the accident site elevation, the density altitude was calculated to be about 10,706 feet mean sea level. Toxicology testing on the pilot was positive for an unspecified amount of Famotidine within the blood and urine. Famotidine is an acid-reducing medication, used to treat heartburn or ulcer disease and is available through prescription or over the counter. Famotidine is commonly known by the trade name Pepcid.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › (general) › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 503 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,578 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OGD Ogden UT at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Alpine WY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from LGU, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.