| Crash location | 44.094166°N, 116.903333°W |
| Nearest city | Payette, ID
44.078220°N, 116.933771°W 1.9 miles away |
| Tail number | N177TT |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 17 Jun 2017 |
| Aircraft type | Prescot E. Wilkie RV-3 |
| Additional details: | None |
On June 17, 2017, about 1145 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-3 airplane, N177TT, impacted terrain following the separation of the left wing while maneuvering near Payette, Idaho. The airline transport pilot sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The local personal flight departed Payette Municipal Airport (S75), Payette, Idaho about 1140. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.
Witnesses observed the airplane depart Runway 31 and make a steep climbing right turn. They observed the airplane turn left and descend back toward the airport for a low pass over the runway. The airplane then pitched up steeply at the opposite end of the runway and performed another course reversal and low pass in the opposite direction. It repeated this sequence of maneuvers several times. During the course reversal on the last pull-up, the left wing separated and the airplane spiraled into a field.