Piper PA-24 accident near Paris, Idaho, May 29, 2021
On May 29, 2021 at about 6:47 pm local time, a 1959 Piper PA-24, registered N6334P, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Paris, Idaho (Bear Lake County 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
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2021 · about 6:47 pm local time
- Place
- Paris, Idaho · Bear Lake County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24 180, built 1959 · all PA-24s on the register
- Registration
- N6334P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1444
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On a personal cross-country flight, during cruise, the pilot noted an increase in oil temperature. He made the decision to divert to a nearby airport that was about 3 nautical miles (nm) away. As the pilot made the turn back to the airport, the engine lost total power. During the descent he made several unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine. He did not recall lowering the landing gear but determined that it was safe to do so. He did not lower the flaps or turn on the carburetor heat. About 500 ft above ground level (agl), he realized that he was not going to make the runway and elected to make a forced landing to the surrounding area. During the landing sequence, the airplane impacted a berm and a fence post before it came to rest about 100 ft short of the runway. Postaccident engine examination revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunction or failure 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 257.4 hours in all; 17.1 in this make and model; 183 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 3, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,469 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 25, 2021; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 2,416 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U42 Salt Lake City UT at 5:33 pm
- Destination: JAC Jackson Hole UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28, 5,728 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from K1U7
Weather report (METAR): METAR K1U7 291900Z AUTO 35004KT 10SM CLR 16/M03 A3012
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on September 27, 2023. 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 - Pilot | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Owner | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Engine Examination Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 4 | ADS-B Flight Track Summary | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Weather Summary | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Roc Teldredge (NTSB) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Bear Lake Co Sheriff Incident Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Excerpt Aircraft Records | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Blackstone Analysis Report | 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.