Cessna 340A accident near Boise, Idaho, October 12, 2023
On October 12, 2023 at about 8:50 am local time, a 1981 Cessna 340A, registered N682JS, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Boise, Idaho (Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field). It was a positioning 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while taxiing, which resulted in impact with a fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2023 · about 8:50 am local time
- Place
- Boise, Idaho · Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 340A, built 1981 · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N682JS · registry record · serial 340A1237
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While taxiing for departure in night visual meteorological conditions, the airplane drifted left of the taxiway centerline and the left wingtip impacted a fence, resulting in substantial damage and a postimpact fire when the left wingtip fuel tank was breached. Although the pilot reported that the right brake failed while attempting to stop, review of surveillance video footage indicated that the airplane was traveling at a relatively constant speed with no noticeable change in speed or direction before impact with the fence. Examination of the airplane’s brake system, nose wheel steering system, wheels, and tires revealed no evidence of any failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain directional control while taxiing, which resulted in impact with the fence.
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
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Awareness of condition
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,560 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 3,890 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 23, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,085 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 12, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 6,290 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 1,230 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520-NB (piston); 5,026 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Western Airlines Lc
The flight
- Destination: SFF Spokane WA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from KBOI, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBOI 120853Z AUTO 32005KT 10SM CLR 07/04 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP126 T00670044 53014
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR24LA013.