Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL M-18B N117BS

Summary

On 22 May 2004 at about 20:16 local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL M-18B registered N117BS, operated by New Frontier Aviation, was involved in an accident near Borah Peak, 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

22 May 2004 at 20:16

Classification

Accident

Location

Borah Peak, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

44.1283, -113.7783

Aircraft

Wsk Pzl Mielec PZL M-18B

Registration

N117BS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

New Frontier Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dillon → Boise

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA04LA095

1 person died.

The pilot's inadequate planning/decision, VFR into IMC, and his failure to maintain terrain clearance. Factors include mountainous terrain and instrument meteorological condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was on the first leg of a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight that originated approximately one hour and 15 minutes prior to the accident. After failing to arrive at the scheduled destination, the FAA issued an Alert Notice (ALNOT) and a search for the missing airplane was initiated. Eight days after the search was initiated, the missing airplane was located in mountainous terrain near the summit of Borah Peak at an elevation of approximately 11,210 feet above mean sea level. Widespread areas of instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) were reported along the pilot's route of flight. Weather forecasts for the time and area of the accident included icing conditions and mountain obscuration.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.