Piper PA 20 accident near Yellow Pine, Idaho, June 18, 2015
On June 18, 2015 at about 6:20 pm local time, a 1950 Piper PA 20, registered N6939K, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Yellow Pine, Idaho (Johnson Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed decision to go around after realizing that the airplane’s airspeed and altitude were too high, which resulted in an inadequate flare and bounced landing and a subsequent go-around in high-density altitude conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2015 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Yellow Pine, Idaho · Johnson Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 20 150, built 1950 · all PA 20s on the register
- Registration
- N6939K · no longer on the register · serial 20-43
- 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, while the airplane was on final approach to the airport, he realized that it was too high, so he performed a slip to lose altitude; however, due to the excessive speed and descent rate, the airplane subsequently landed hard just before midfield and bounced twice. The pilot then added full power to initiate a go-around. However, the airplane would not climb at a sufficient rate to clear the trees at the end of the runway. The airplane collided with a tree and subsequently impacted the ground adjacent to the departure end of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The calculated density altitude was 7,697 ft mean sea level and the airplane was about 46 lbs under its maximum gross weight at the time of the accident. It is possible that these issues adversely affected the airplane's climb rate during the go-around.
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 (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during initial climb
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 145 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 85 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JSY Joseph OR
- Destination: 3U2 Yellow Pine ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,400 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from KMYL, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on October 19, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FAA - Record of Conversation, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | FAA - Record of Conversation, Witness | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA - Weight and Balance Calculations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Piper-airplane Flight Manual, Performance Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N6939K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.