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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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November 17, 1988 · Piper PA-18 · N1963P

Idaho Falls, ID

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 17, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Idaho Falls, ID
Aircraft
Piper PA-18
Tail Number
N1963P
Operator
Linden J Butikofer
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA89LA019

PLT REPORTEDLY STOLE ACFT AND DEPARTED ABOUT MIDNIGHT IN SNOWSTORM. FOR 3 HOURS HE BUZZED LOCAL RESIDENCES VEHICLES UNTIL FUEL EXHAUSTION. FORCED LNDG MADE IN ROUGH FIELD. INVESTIGATION REVEALED PLT HAD LONG HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND HAD FALSIFIED MEDICAL CERTIFICATE APPLICATION DATA.

Full Narrative

PLT REPORTEDLY STOLE ACFT AND DEPARTED ABOUT MIDNIGHT IN SNOWSTORM. FOR 3 HOURS HE BUZZED LOCAL RESIDENCES VEHICLES UNTIL FUEL EXHAUSTION. FORCED LNDG MADE IN ROUGH FIELD. INVESTIGATION REVEALED PLT HAD LONG HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND HAD FALSIFIED MEDICAL CERTIFICATE APPLICATION DATA.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time02:30 MST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18
Tail NumberN1963P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorLinden J Butikofer
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2A · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 39 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDark Night
Wind100° @ 3 kt
Visibility1 sm
Ceiling400 ft
Temperature / Dew Point30 C / 30 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time09:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data