Piper PA-32RT-300T N31998

Summary

On 22 June 2025 at about 21:15 local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T registered N31998, operated by Lance Group LLC, was involved in an accident near Winchester, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

22 June 2025 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Winchester, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

46.2888, -116.6349

Aircraft

Piper PA-32RT-300T

Registration

N31998

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Lance Group LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Provo → Pullman

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR25LA183

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s improper fuel management resulting in fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and a subsequent off-airport forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s reduced fuel level monitoring due to an inflight distraction.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, as he neared his destination, he became distracted by worsening weather conditions and forgot to switch fuel tanks. As a result, the fuel was depleted from the right fuel tank, and the airplane suffered a total loss of engine power. While attempting to restart the engine, the pilot intended to the move the selector to the left tank, but inadvertently moved the fuel selector from the right tank to the off position instead. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot selected a field to perform a forced landing. Prior to touchdown, the pilot realized the fuel was selected off and moved the fuel selector to the left tank; however, before power could be restored, the airplane impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.