Piper PA-20 accident near Cascade, Idaho, July 18, 2021
On July 18, 2021 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1952 Piper PA-20, registered N2712A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Cascade, Idaho (Cascade airport). 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 failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2021 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cascade, Idaho · Cascade · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20, built 1952 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N2712A · no longer on the register · serial 20-898
- 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 tail wheel equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll the airplane veered left. The pilot attempted corrective action and applied power to perform a go around, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The airplane turned hard to the right and skidded to a stop. The left wing and left elevator impacted the ground and were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 231 hours in all; 202 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 135 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 26, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,774 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 25, 2020; 2,774 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 3,044 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYL Mccall ID at 4:05 pm
- Destination: U70 Cascade ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12/3, 4,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 am from KMYL, 24 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMYL 181551Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/06 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP179 T02110056
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 17, 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 | Photo Damage | 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.