On August 27, 2005, a Piper PA-14 (registration N5104H) was involved in an aviation accident near Challis, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and the subsequent inadvertent stall/spin to the ground. A contributing factor was the pilot's diverted attention while spotting/locating Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane used for spotting Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep was consumed by a post-impact fire. No ground scar was found; the left wing swept forward and the right wing swept aft. No preimpact anomalies were identified.
Accident Overview
The airplane was being used by the pilot and passenger to locate Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep in mountainous terrain ahead of the hunting season. A responding firefighting team discovered the wreckage.
Wreckage Examination
Investigators found no impact ground scar at the site. The aircraft was consumed by a post-impact fire. Examination of the remaining structure revealed that the left wing was swept forward approximately 60 degrees, while the right wing was swept aft by approximately 60 degrees. The aft fuselage and empennage were rotated and twisted to the right.
Engine and Airframe Analysis
No preimpact anomalies were found in the engine or airframe that could have affected the airplane's performance.