Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Winchester, Idaho, June 22, 2025
On June 22, 2025 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA-32RT-300T, registered N31998, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Winchester, Idaho. It was a personal 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 pilot’s improper fuel management resulting in fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and a subsequent off-airport forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s reduced fuel level monitoring due to an inflight distraction.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 2025 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Winchester, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T, built 1978 · all PA-32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N31998 · registry record · serial 32R-7887019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, as he neared his destination, he became distracted by worsening weather conditions and forgot to switch fuel tanks. As a result, the fuel was depleted from the right fuel tank, and the airplane suffered a total loss of engine power. While attempting to restart the engine, the pilot intended to the move the selector to the left tank, but inadvertently moved the fuel selector from the right tank to the off position instead. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot selected a field to perform a forced landing. Prior to touchdown, the pilot realized the fuel was selected off and moved the fuel selector to the left tank; however, before power could be restored, the airplane impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Fuel starvation during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 330 hours in all; 277 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 272 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 16, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,118 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 2025; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 4,354 hours total
- Operator: Lance Group LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PVU Provo UT at 6:30 pm
- Destination: PUW Pullman WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:32 pm from KLWS, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLWS 222132Z VRB04KT 10SM FEW070 BKN090 20/06 A3004 RMK AO2 T02000056 $
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.
Other NTSB records under N31998 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.