# NTSB DEN03LA139: Piper PA-28-161, N2973T, Crowheart, WY, August 6, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 2003, 13:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Crowheart, WY - Coordinates: 43.284999, -109.335556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2850&lon=-109.3356&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards Field Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 57649 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57649/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA139 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning (attempting to exceed aircraft's published certificated performance), the pilot not obtaining sufficient altitude to clear the terrain (not possible), and the pilot's inadequate in flight planning/decision making. Contributing factors were the high-density weather conditions, the downdraft weather conditions, and the mountainous terrain condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - aircraft performance - exceeded - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot, with his three passengers, was climbing through 9,500 feet to fly over a mountain. He said that he encountered a severe downdraft and was unable to clear the mountain peak. He made a forced landing straight ahead, "for fear of a stall or spin into the trees." The airplane slid approximately 100 feet, separating the fixed landing gear and crushing inward the fuselage bottom. The density altitude at the accident location, an altitude of 8,795 feet, was calculated to be 11,955 feet. The density altitude at 9,500 feet was calculated to be 12,825 feet. The airplane manufacturer's representative said that "published engine performance charts indicate that the airplane had exceeded its certificated limitations." A postaccident engine test run was performed, and no anomalies were identified. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2003, at 1350 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N2973T was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a forced landing 6 miles west of Crowheart, Wyoming. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Riverton, Wyoming, at 1320. According to the pilot, he was en route to Jackson Hole, and was climbing through 9,500 feet to fly over a mountain. He said that he encountered a severe downdraft and was unable to clear the mountain peak. The pilot made a forced landing straight ahead, "for fear of a stall or spin into the trees." The airplane slid approximately 100 feet. The left and right main landing gear, and the nose landing gear were sheared off. The bottom of the fuselage was crushed inward and torn. The density altitude at the accident location, an altitude of 8,795 feet, was calculated to be 11,955 feet. The density altitude at 9,500 feet was calculated to be 12,825 feet. The airplane manufacturer's representative said, "Published engine performance charts indicate that the airplane had exceeded its certificated limitations." On November 30, 2003, the pilot contacted the National Transportation Safety Board through a public correspondence. He stated that he "failed to include in [his] narrative that the engine was skipping during the flight." On January 14, 2003, the engine was run at Beelges Aircraft Company in Greeley, Colorado. The mixture control had been crushed during the impact sequence, and could not be adjusted; the other engine controls were fully functional. During the test run, the engine obtained 2,250 rpm. The magnetos were checked, and the right magneto showed a loss of 50 rpm and the left magneto showed a loss of 75 rpm. A maximum allowable rpm drop during a magneto check is 150 rpm, provided both magnetos are within 75 rpm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2973T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2973T-2013-08-19), registration cancelled 2013-08-19, S/N 28-8016008, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8016008 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: ISO Ero Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: RIW, Riverton, WY - Destination: JAC, Jackson Hole, WY - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 21, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 470 total, 390 in this make and model, 412 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: RIW, 40 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 20030806018139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030806018139A), Aug 6, 2003: Piper PA28161, Crowheart, WY, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot departed the riverton airport under high density conditions. He then proceeded into high terrain where the aircraft could not maintain altitude and… ## Other investigations on N2973T (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC83LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC83LA049), Dec 31, 1982: Piper PA-28-161 (N2973T), Oakley, KS, substantial damage 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.