Piper PA28R accident near Twin Falls, Idaho, March 6, 2020
On March 6, 2020 at about 5:40 pm local time, a 1974 Piper PA28R, registered N41429, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Twin Falls, Idaho (Joslin Field - Magic Valley Re). It was a personal 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 loss of directional control during takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a runway approach light.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 2020 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Twin Falls, Idaho · Joslin Field - Magic Valley Re · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28R 200, built 1974 · all PA28Rs on the register
- Registration
- N41429 · registry record · serial 28R-7435180
- 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, during the takeoff roll with an 80° left crosswind of 18 knots, gusting to 24 knots, the airplane unexpectedly became airborne due to a wind gust. The airplane drifted off the right side of the runway, so the pilot aborted the takeoff and landed on dirt, closed the throttle, and applied braking. As the airplane continued forward, its right wing impacted a runway approach light, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during after landing
The NTSB's findings
- 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
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 358 hours in all; 283 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 358 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2018
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,302.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 2019; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-CIC (piston); 5,302 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KTWF Twin Falls ID at 5:40 pm
- Destination: K06U Jackpot NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 8,703 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 18 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 5:32 pm from KTWF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 21, 2020. 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's Narrative Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Meteorology | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array of Right Wing Damage | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | 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.