Piper PA-28-140 accident near Newdale, Idaho, October 28, 2021
On October 28, 2021 at about 1:42 am local time, a 1968 Piper PA-28-140, registered N1671J, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Newdale, Idaho. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s failure to monitor the flight to ensure terrain clearance during the dark night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 2021 · about 1:42 am local time
- Place
- Newdale, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 28-24072, built 1968 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1671J · no longer on the register · serial 28-24072
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot were on an instructional flight and were returning to their home airport in dark night conditions. The student pilot was utilizing a view limiting device (foggles) and was receiving altitude and heading instructions from the flight instructor. They had begun a descent about 15 miles east of the destination airport. Shortly thereafter, the student pilot reported that the airplane struck what he thought was a tall standing object. The airplane landed hard, bounced back into the air, and impacted flat open terrain. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing and engine firewall. The flight instructor did not recall any additional circumstances regarding the accident sequence. Both the flight instructor and student 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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 587 hours in all; 213 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 1, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 19 hours in all; 19 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 15, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DIJ Driggs ID at 1:19 am
- Destination: RXE Rexburg ID
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from KSMP, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSMP 280251Z AUTO 00000KT 3SM UP BR SCT008 OVC012 02/01 A3023 RMK AO2 UPE09B40RAB09E40 P0003 T00170006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.