Idaho County Airport: Grangeville, Idaho

Airport is located 1 mile north of Grangeville, Idaho.

Accident occurred Sunday, November 01, 2009 in Grangeville, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 3/3/2010
Aircraft: PIPER PA-18-150, registration: N82213
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
The pilot, who was making a visual-flight-rules approach to an 800-foot-long remote airstrip, overflew the runway to observe the windsock. Because he observed the windsock hanging limp, he assumed that the winds around the runway were calm, and therefore continued his approach. About the time he reached the approach end of the uphill-sloping runway, the airplane encountered a strong tailwind gust, which pushed it "…too far up the strip to land." The pilot therefore executed a go-around, but his decision was "too late" and he was therefore unable to outclimb the terrain on the departure end of the runway. During the go-around sequence, the airplane's landing gear came in contact with brush and it flipped over onto its back. Ground witnesses told the pilot that all morning the winds had been variable in direction and had been changing rapidly from nearly calm to gusting as high as 20 miles per hour.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot's delayed decision to execute a go-around in gusting winds and with up-sloping terrain.
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Accident occurred Thursday, May 28, 2009 in Grangeville, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 8/13/2009
Aircraft: PIPER PA-38-112, registration: N25353
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
The student pilot landed the airplane and exited the runway at a taxiway. As he taxied the airplane to a fueling facility he inadvertently turned onto a roadway designated for automobile traffic. A short time later he became distracted by an automobile, and the left wing struck a sign post. The airplane then departed the roadway and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing during the accident sequence.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle during taxi.
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Accident occurred Saturday, March 22, 2008 in Grangeville, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 4/30/2008
Aircraft: Maule M-8-235, registration: N205MX
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
The pilot reported that he was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on runway 25 with no wind. His first approach was fast, the airplane bounced on touchdown, and he executed a go-around. On his second approach, the airplane drifted left and touched down left of the runway center line and bounced. Upon its second touchdown, the airplane swerved, and although the pilot attempted to regain control, it departed the left side of the runway and encountered a ditch. The pilot stated that "while current [he] did not have enough recent practice and should have refused PIC [pilot-in-command]."

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop/swerve. A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of recent experience.
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Accident occurred Thursday, September 13, 2007 in Grangeville, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 11/29/2007
Aircraft: Aviat A-1B, registration: N319AM
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
After an uneventful touchdown in calm winds, the pilot failed to maintain directional control of the tailwheel-equipped aircraft during the landing roll. After the aircraft departed the right side of the runway, it encountered a ditch located between the runway and the taxiway, and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies or malfunctions in the aircraft's flight controls or tailwheel steering systems.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors include a ditch located between the runway and the taxiway.