What happened
On June 9, 2012, a Piper PA-32-300, registration N8990N, crashed into mountainous terrain near Mountain Home, Idaho. The flight was a cross-country trip from Imperial, Nebraska, to Nampa, Idaho, under visual flight rules. The pilot had previously stopped in Rock Springs, Wyoming, for fuel approximately three hours before the accident.
At the time of the accident, the aircraft was operating in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with rain and snow showers. Radar data showed that the aircraft's altitude had descended from 15,500 feet to approximately 7,000 feet in the minutes leading up to the impact. Shortly before the crash, the flight track showed the aircraft turning left to an east heading before turning back to a west/northwest heading. The final radar return placed the airplane at 7,600 feet, about 0.27 miles from the accident site. The aircraft struck the terrain at an elevation of approximately 7,400 feet in a right-wing-low attitude, resulting in 1 fatal injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found that the aircraft had been consumed by a post-impact fire. The fuselage was found inverted, and the engine had separated from the airframe. Examination of the engine, including the cylinders, spark plugs, and fuel system, revealed no evidence of mechanical failures that would have prevented normal operation. The magnetos were tested and found to be producing sparks.
Toxicological analysis of the pilot was performed by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute. Tests were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and ethanol. The presence of diltiazem and warfarin was noted, both of which the pilot had previously reported to the FAA. The presence of indomethacin was also detected.