Piper PA-11 N4846M

Summary

On 19 October 2024 at about 18:30 local time, a Piper PA-11 registered N4846M was involved in an accident near Rexburg, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 October 2024 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Rexburg, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Rexburg-Madison County (RXE)

Coordinates

43.8339, -111.8051

Aircraft

Piper PA-11

Registration

N4846M

Category

Airplane

Year built

1947

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Air Drop

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rexburg → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR25LA021

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to see and avoid transmission wires during the landing approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was in a pumpkin drop competition that was being held on a farm field with a new landing strip. The prevailing winds necessitated that the airplanes fly over transmission wires prior to landing. The pilot stated that he dropped his pumpkins, but missed the target by a long distance. During his landing, he flew over one set of power lines and reduced power to descend and land. The airplane inadvertently struck a second, parallel set of wires that he had not seen. The pilot stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot was hospitalized for 12 weeks following the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.