# NTSB DEN00LA170: Piper PA-28-181, N6130H, Sheridan, WY, September 15, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 15, 2000, 16:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Sheridan, WY - Coordinates: 44.789646, -106.950981 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7896&lon=-106.9510&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50267 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50267/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA170 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper inflight decision to enter a canyon at an altitude insufficient to clear rising terrain. A factor was the aircraft's climb performance being exceeded due to the rising terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, climb - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - altitude/clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - terrain condition - none suitable ## Analysis The pilot filed an IFR flight plan, and was flying direct from Pierre, South Dakota, to Red Lodge, Montana. North of Newcastle, Wyoming, he cancelled his IFR flight plan and received VFR flight following as he started toward the Big Horn Mountains. He turned up a valley and soon realized the terrain was rising faster than the airplane could climb. Terrain proximity precluded him from turning around, so he elected to land in a meadow. Although the pilot escaped injury, his passenger sustained a compression fracture of a lumbar vertebra, and the airplane was substantially damaged when both wings and fuselage buckled. ## Factual narrative On September 15, 2000, approximately 1610 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N6130H, registered to Donald A. Faybrick et al., and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while maneuvering about 20 miles west of Sheridan, Wyoming. The private pilot was not injured, but his passenger sustained a serious injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan had been filed for the personal cross-country flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Pierre, South Dakota, approximately 1330 central daylight time. The pilot said he had filed an IFR flight plan, and was flying direct from Pierre, South Dakota, to Red Lodge, Montana, at 6,500 feet msl (above mean sea level). North of Newcastle, Wyoming, he cancelled his IFR flight plan and received VFR flight following as he started toward the Big Horn Mountains. He turned up a valley and soon realized the terrain was rising faster than the airplane could climb. Terrain proximity precluded him from turning around, so he elected to land in a meadow. Although the pilot escaped injury, his passenger sustained a compression fracture of a lumbar vertebra, and the airplane was substantially damaged when both wings and fuselage buckled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6130H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6130H-2013-08-06), registration cancelled 2013-08-06, S/N 28-7890210, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7890210 - Airframe hours: 3555 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: T.J. Hutchins/D.A. Faybrick - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 14, 2000, 10 hours before - Departed: PIR, PIERRE, SD - Destination: RED, RED LODGE, MT - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,260 total, 1,260 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SHR, 27 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000915014029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000915014029A), Sep 15, 2000: Piper PA28181, Sheridan, WY, No damage. (-23) Pilot entered canyon and found himself too low to climb over ridge. Made emergency up slope landing resulting in substantial damage to a/c and minor… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.