Piper PA-24-260 accident near Coolin, Idaho, August 15, 2012
On August 15, 2012 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-260, registered N9382P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Coolin, Idaho (Cavanaugh Bay Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 attain a touchdown point sufficient to stop the airplane within the length of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2012 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Coolin, Idaho · Cavanaugh Bay Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N9382P · registry record · serial 24-4883
- 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 on final approach he was concerned about trees bracketing each side of the runway's approach end, and he stayed high to clear them. The airplane touched down onto the turf runway, bounced back into the air, and touched down a second time. The pilot applied brakes, realized he was running out of runway, and applied heavier braking. The airplane started to slide and, despite the pilot’s control inputs, overran the end of the runway and impacted a ditch. Subsequently, the left wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 365 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 540 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 16, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,607 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation West Insurance Brokers LLC
The flight
- Departed from: S75 Payette ID at 8:30 pm
- Destination: 66S Coolin ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,100 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from SZT, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.