Piper PA-34-200T C-GBEN

Summary

On 17 July 2003 at about 15:45 local time, a Piper PA-34-200T registered C-GBEN was involved in an accident near White Bird, Idaho, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 July 2003 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

White Bird, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

45.7336, -116.3853

Aircraft

Piper PA-34-200T

Registration

C-GBEN

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Non-U.S., Non-Commercial

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Springbank → Vancouver

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA03FA143

1 person died.

The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance with terrain while maneuvering. Factors contributing to the accident included the impairment of the pilot due to carbon monoxide exposure and the trees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to his departure the pilot informed maintenance personnel that he would be flying from Calgary, Canada to Vancouver, Canada. There was no radar data availble on the accident aircraft after taking off, nor while on the en route portion of the flight. At approximately 0755, local law enforcement personnel reported receiving a telephone call from an individual who reported seeing a twin engine airplane flying low over the area close to the Snake River. At approximately 0845, a second witness reported seeing a twin-engine airplane on the east side of the Salmon River at an altitude estimated to be between 200 and 500 feet above the ground, heading north-northwest paralleling the river. The witness stated that he didn't detect anything "irregular" about the engine, and that the airplane disappeared out of sight as it continued in a north-northwest direction. At 0930 the aircraft wreckage was located in a remote forested area. The beginning of the wreckage path was evidenced by multiple severed trees and extended over an area of approximately 555 feet on a southerly heading. Both wings were separated from the fuselage, and all fuel tanks were breached. The vertical stabilizer and rudder remained attached to the empennage, while the stabilator and elevator were separated. There was no post-impact fire. Post-accident toxicology testing revealed a carboxyhemoglobin (carbon monoxide) level of 17% which would be expected to result in measurable impairment of cognitive function. Examination of the airframe, engine and aircraft logbooks did not reveal any pre-existing anomalies which would have prevented normal operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.