Piper PA 18-150 accident near Twin Falls, Idaho, October 26, 2013
On October 26, 2013 at about 11:15 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA 18-150, registered N83417, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Twin Falls, Idaho. It was a personal 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
The pilot's loss of aircraft control during the rejected takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 2013 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Twin Falls, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 18-150 A150, built 1978 · all PA 18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N83417 · registry record · serial 18-7909027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane had just completed an uneventful local flight, taking off and landing in a ploughed field adjacent to the home of his friend. A short time later he prepared for the return flight to his home base, and prior to departure he moved his seat forward to accommodate the passenger behind. During the takeoff roll he inadvertently moved the mixture control with his left knee, and the engine began to lose power. He aborted the takeoff, and as he applied brake pressure, the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The airplane had recently been rebuilt, with the mixture control positioned in the lower left corner of the instrument panel, just above the pilot's left knee. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel controlling system › Unintentional use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 670 hours in all; 393.6 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 13.1 in the last 30 days; 672 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 26, 2013; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Twin Falls ID
- Destination: LGU Logan UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KTWF, 6 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.