Piper PA-32R-301 accident near Stanley, Idaho, September 15, 2021
On September 15, 2021 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1999 Piper PA-32R-301, registered N529PE, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Stanley, Idaho (Stanley airport). It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 maintain airplane control during landing with a gusting crosswind which, resulted in a hard landing 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
- September 15, 2021 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stanley, Idaho · Stanley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301, built 1999 · all PA-32R-301s on the register
- Registration
- N529PE · no longer on the register · serial 3246151
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the retractable landing gear airplane reported that, during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a wind gust, which had a “shearing effect.” The airplane subsequently stalled and landed hard. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered to the right and exited the runway, where it collided with rocks. The pilot reported that, about the time of the accident the wind was from 260° and variable between 12 to 17 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane on runway 17. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. 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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,064 hours in all; 349 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 1,853 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 14, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,176 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 2021
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G1 (piston); 1,073 hours total
- Operator: Rose Air, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KMMV Mc Minnville OR at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots, gusting 19
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from KSNT, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSNT 152151Z AUTO 32005G19KT 23/M05 A3001 RMK AO1 SLP084 T02331050
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 12, 2021. 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 | Damage Photo | 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.