Piper PA-32RT accident near Malad, Idaho, September 26, 2018
On September 26, 2018 at about 10:50 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA-32RT, registered N24BA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Malad, Idaho (Malad City airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to identify that he was not utilizing the full runway for takeoff, and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2018 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Malad, Idaho · Malad City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT 300, built 1978 · all PA-32RTs on the register
- Registration
- N24BA · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7887206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he did not realize that he entered the runway at the taxiway intersection about halfway down the 5,000-ft-long runway. During the takeoff ground roll, the airplane’s speed was about 60 knots (below rotation speed) when he realized that the end of the runway was approaching, and he needed to either lift off or abort the takeoff. The pilot attempted to continue the takeoff, but the airplane would not lift off. The pilot subsequently applied the brakes to try and stop, however there was not enough runway remaining and the airplane continued off the end of the runway, over a road, and struck a drainage ditch. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that if the pilot had utilized the full available runway for the takeoff, or had aborted the takeoff sooner, the runway excursion would not have occurred.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Takeoff distance › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 46 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 8, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,033 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2018; 30 hours since
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-SIAD (piston); 3,458 hours total
The flight
- Destination: GTF Great Falls MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,950 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from KMLD, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on February 3, 2022. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Records Excerpts | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.