Fatal Mountain Crash of Piper PA-20-135 N1231C Near Challis, Idaho

Accident Overview and Flight History On June 26, 2022, at approximately 1945 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-20-135, registration N1231C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Challis, Idaho. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. On the day of the accident, a witness observed the aircraft land at Lower Loon Creek airport (C53) in Challis, Idaho. The pilot and passenger indicated they were camping at Johnson Creek Airport (3U2) but planned to spend the day at Lower Loon. Later that evening, the witness saw the aircraft taxi, take off, and fly into a box canyon, followed by a dust cloud. A friend of the pilot reported that they had been camping at 3U2 and had flown to C53 earlier in the day. Due to density altitude, they waited until later in the evening to depart C53 for the return flight to 3U2. At the time of departure, the density altitude was approximately 6,200 feet mean sea level (msl). The friend observed the aircraft depart to the north, climb, and turn back toward the runway around 1930. The last observation placed the aircraft on a southbound heading. Shortly after departure, the friend observed smoke, which he believed to be a small ground fire. After landing and refueling at McCall Municipal Airport (MYL), the friend continued to 3U2, where the accident aircraft had not arrived, and reported N1231C as missing. ## Aircraft and Environmental Factors The accident site was located at an elevation of approximately 6,240 feet msl, which was 2,040 feet higher than the departure airport at 4,200 feet msl. Assuming the aircraft was within its center of gravity envelope and operated according to the owner’s handbook, the climb rate would have decreased from approximately 477 feet per minute (fpm) to about 360 fpm. The calculated density altitude for the accident time and location was approximately 8,980 feet msl, with a pressure altitude of 5,974 feet msl. ## Wreckage and Impact Information First responders located the wreckage by air approximately 1.5 miles north of C53. The aircraft impacted steep, rising mountainous terrain at an elevation of about 6,240 feet msl on an approximate southerly heading. The main wreckage came to rest upright about 30 feet below the initial impact point and was mostly consumed by fire. All major structural components were found at the accident site. Post-accident examination of the recovered airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to all primary flight controls. Numerous separations were noted within the flight control system, with signatures consistent with overload separation or the recovery process.