Idaho Falls Regional Airport: Idaho Falls, Idaho

Airport is located 2 miles north west of Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Accident occurred Sunday, July 05, 2009 in Idaho Falls, ID
Aircraft: Thomas C. Piper Murphy Rebel, registration: N5PQ
Injuries: 1 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On July 5, 2009, about 0809 mountain daylight time, a Piper Murphy Rebel, N5PQ, experimental airplane, experienced a sudden and total loss of engine power during initial climb from the Idaho Falls Regional Airport, Idaho Falls, Idaho. The home-built airplane touched down hard during the ensuing forced landing on the airport, and it was substantially damaged. The private pilot received a minor injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and it was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that, when the engine quit, the conventional gear airplane had climbed about 500 feet over the runway. The pilot stated that during the forced landing he stalled the airplane an estimated 20 feet above the runway. Thereafter, the airplane touched down hard and the wings broke.
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Accident occurred Sunday, December 21, 2008 in Idaho Falls, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 3/23/2009
Aircraft: PIPER PA-46-350P, registration: N379P
Injuries: 4 Uninjured.
The pilot reported that he checked the weather information for the arrival airport during the execution of an instrument approach. He stated that the weather report indicated the winds to be light, and that the runway had been plowed and sanded but was covered with light snow and patchy ice. Just after touchdown the airplane began to drift to the left; the pilot then countered with the gradual application of right rudder. The airplane momentarily straightened out, but as the ground speed decreased, the airplane continued the left drift. The airplane then departed the runway and collided with a snow bank causing substantial damage to the firewall.

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. Contributing to the accident were the icy runway conditions and a snow bank.
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Accident occurred Tuesday, September 30, 2008 in Idaho Falls, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 1/29/2009
Aircraft: Brennan RV-8, registration: N272RS
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
While taxiing to the runway for departure, the pilot noticed flames entering the cockpit below his feet. He immediately stopped the airplane and shut the engine down and he and his passenger exited the airplane. The airport’s Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) team responded and extinguished the fire, which was originating from the engine compartment. A few minutes later, the fire reportedly ignited a second time and was immediately extinguished by ARFF personnel. Examination of the airplane revealed that the engine firewall was fire damaged and buckled. A "B" nut attaching the firewall end of the fuel line from the firewall to the engine driven fuel pump was found "finger tight." When the airplane was placed in a tail high attitude, fuel was observed leaking from this fitting. The reason for the loose "B" nut was undetermined.

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

The on-ground fire during taxi due to a loose fuel line "B" nut.
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Accident occurred Thursday, March 20, 2008 in Idaho Falls, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 4/30/2008
Aircraft: Beech F90, registration: N124BK
Injuries: 6 Uninjured.
The pilot said the airplane was high and fast as it crossed the runway numbers. After touchdown and application of reverse thrust, the pilot did not like the runway remaining, so he added power to abort the landing. It took the engines 1 to 2 seconds to spool up, and he decided that it would be better to roll off the end of the runway than to attempt a takeoff with so little runway left. He went back into reverse thrust. He did not apply full brakes, as he was concerned that the airplane might flip over. The airplane went off the end of the runway, and slid to a stop in snow and mud. The nose gear collapsed in the process, and the airframe sustained damage in the wheel well area.

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

the pilot's misjudged distance and airspeed that led to a failure to attain the proper touchdown point and a runway overrun. Contributing factors were the snow and muddy conditions off the runway.
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Accident occurred Thursday, February 03, 2005 in Idaho Falls, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 4/28/2005
Aircraft: Cessna 172N, registration: N5204K
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
The flight instructor reported that he and his student were performing touch and go landings on runway 35. On the second landing, the airplane touched down smoothly, and the flight instructor was "critiquing" the student's landing, when the student "unexpectedly added full power causing the plane to jerk to the left." The flight instructor reduced power and applied the brakes. He was unable to prevent the airplane from exiting the runway. When the nose wheel entered the "foot and a half deep snow" beside the runway, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The outboard left wing, the vertical stabilizer, and the wing struts sustained structural damage.

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

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. A contributing factor was the deep snow beside the runway.