# NTSB DEN04FA074: Piper PA-30, N7460Y, Evanston, WY, May 24, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 23, 2004, 21:13 local (May 24, 2004, 03:13 UTC) - Place: Evanston, WY - Coordinates: 41.282501, -111.017219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2825&lon=-111.0172&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: The New Piper Aircraft Company, FAA Flight Standards Field Office, Lycoming Engines - NTSB case key (mKey): 59276 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04FA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59276/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04FA074 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors include snow, low ceiling, icing conditions, and the dark night. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly ## Analysis According to Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), the pilot contacted them requesting a pop-up IFR clearance. The accident airplane was cleared for the VOR DME runway 23 approach. The pilot acknowledged his clearance and no further communications were received. According to ARTCC radar, the airplane's last position was 1 3/4 miles west of the airport at 7,700 feet msl. The IFR flight plan was not closed and further communications were not established with the pilot. At approximately 2120, ARTCC contacted the airport and initiated a search for the airplane. At 2340, airport personnel located the airplane approximately 150 yards northeast of runway 23. According to the Evanston Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) taken at 2053, the weather was reported as follows: winds 200 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 1 statute mile, light snow, mist; sky condition scattered 200 feet agl, overcast 600 feet agl; temperature 0 degrees Celsius (C), dewpoint 0 degrees C; altimeter 29.96 inches. Weather radar indicated an area of freezing precipitation in the Evanston area at the time of the accident. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 23, 2004, at approximately 2113 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-30, N7460Y, piloted by an airline transport pilot, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during the VOR DME approach, runway 23, into Uinta County-Burns Field Airport (EVW), Evanston, Wyoming. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The personal flight was being conducted on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot, his passenger, and pet dog were fatally injured. The cross-country flight originated at Panaca, Nevada, at approximately 1930. According to a transcript provided by Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), at 2047 the pilot requested a pop-up IFR clearance from Heber City, Utah, to Evanston, Wyoming. At 2101, N7460Y was cleared for the VOR DME runway 23 approach into EVW. The pilot acknowledged his clearance and no further communications were received by ARTCC. According to ARTCC radar, at 2112, the airplane's last position was 1 3/4 miles west of EVW at 7,700 feet msl. The IFR flight plan was not closed and further communications were not established with the pilot. At approximately 2120, ARTCC contacted the airport and initiated a search for the airplane. At 2340, airport personnel located the airplane approximately 150 yards northeast of runway 23. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 65, held an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane multiengine land rating, and type ratings in the Airbus A-310 and Boeing 727, 747, 757, and 767, and commercial privileges in airplane single-engine land. He also held a flight engineer certificate with a turbojet-powered rating, a flight navigator certificate, and a ground instructor certificate with advanced and instrument ratings. His second-class airman medical certificate, dated September 17, 2003, contained the following limitation: "Must wear corrective lenses." The pilot was a retired captain for Pan American Airways and Delta Air Lines. He was currently chief pilot for Star West Aviation of Evanston. According to his employment application, he listed his total flight time as 26,000 hours. A logbook found in the wreckage itemized his general aviation experience. According to the logbook, he had logged 902.3 hours, and no less than 12.8 hours in the Piper PA-30. His most recent FAR 135.297 checkride was satisfactorily completed on November 13, 2003. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane, a red and white Piper PA-30 (serial number 30-523), was manufactured in 1964. The airplane was owned by the pilot and used for personal flights. The airplane's most recent registration was dated July 21, 1998. The airplane had a 100-hour inspection performed on April 12, 2004, and an annual inspection on April 5, 2004. The total airframe time recorded was 8,749 hours. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1858, the pilot contacted Reno flight service station for a weather briefing for his flight from southern Nevada to EVW. According to the transcript of this conversation, the destination was forecast for "mountains occasionally obscured in clouds, in precipitation and mist." There was no terminal forecast for EVW; however, the pilot requested the terminal forecast for Rock Springs, Wyoming (90 nautical miles northeast of EVW). It was "wind two niner zero [degrees] at one four with gusts to two two, [visibility] more than six miles, showers in the vicinity." According to the Evanston Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) recorded at 2053, the weather was reported as follows: winds 200 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 1 statute mile, light snow, mist; sky condition scattered 200 feet agl, overcast 600 feet agl; temperature 0 degrees Celsius (C), dewpoint 0 degrees C; altimeter 29.96 inches. Weather radar indicated an area of freezing precipitation in the Evanston area at the time of the accident. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The National Transportation Safety Board's on scene investigation began on May 24, 2004. The accident site was located in hilly, uneven terrain, approximately 450 feet northeast of the approach end of runway 23 at 41 degrees 16.945 minutes north latitude and 111 degrees 01.034 minutes west longitude. The accident site elevation was 7,118 feet msl. The initial impact point was located at 41 degrees 16.970 minutes north latitude and 111 degrees 00.977 minutes west longitude and an elevation of 7,106 feet msl. The impact heading was calculated to be 235 degrees. This point was defined by several ground scars consistent with the impact from the two main landing gear and nose gear. The terrain sloped up at 17 degrees for approximately 150 feet. The debris field extended from the initial impact point, westward for approximately 370 feet. Within the debris field were the left propeller, left main landing gear, right propeller, various cockpit items, windscreen fragments, various engine components, the right main landing gear, and the left front seat. Approximately 316 feet from the initial ground scar was a second ground scar. Within this ground scar was the lens from the right wing tip. Between this second ground scar and the main wreckage was a 9-foot tall wire fence that extended around the perimeter of the airport. There were red and white paint transfer marks on the post, approximately 31 and 40 inches from the bottom of the post. Approximately 55 inches inboard from the left wing tip was an impact crush that was consistent with the shape of the fence post. The airplane's main wreckage was located approximately 375 feet from the initial impact point. The main wreckage included the right and left engines, right and left wings, the fuselage, the main cabin, instrument panel and empennage. The main wreckage was inverted, oriented on a heading of 005 degrees. The left front seat was located approximately 10 feet from the main wreckage. The outboard 6 feet of the right wing and right aileron had separated from the right wing and was located approximately 5 feet from the main wreckage. The right wing and right engine assembly had folded over onto the belly and the right engine was resting on top of the left wing. In addition to the leading edge crush on the left wing, the left aileron was bent and the left engine cowling was crushed. The leading edge of the wing showed longitudinal running particle streaks characteristic of structural icing. The stabilator and vertical stabilizer leading edges showed longitudinal running particle streaks characteristic of structural icing. The rotating beacon on the vertical stabilizer was bent to the right and the leading edge was wrinkled. An examination of the engines and the engine components showed no anomalies. The airplane's flight instruments showed the following indications: Kollsman window: 29.93 inches Airspeed indicator: zero Turn Coordinator: left standard rate turn, ball full left Wing flap: up Heading indicator: 246 degrees Vertical speed indicator: 500 feet per minute climb The airplane's navigation instruments showed the following indications: #2 NAV (VOR): 224 degrees #1 NAV (HIS): 215 degrees Heading bug for #1 NAV: 246 degrees The airplane's engine instruments showed the following indications: Right Tachometer: 0 RPM Left Tachometer: 0 RPM Right TACH time: 1940.74 hours Left TACH time: 4870.26 hours Right fuel tank: slightly below 1/4 full Left fuel tank: slightly below 1/2 full Oil pressure: zero Oil temperature: zero Gyro Suction: zero Amperes: zero The airplane's cockpit controls were found in the following positions: Landing gear lever: down Flap lever: down The airplane's engine controls were found in the following positions: Right engine magneto bank: on Left engine magneto bank: on Right engine alternate air: on Left engine alternate air: off Right engine fuel pump: on Left engine fuel pump: off Pitot heat ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7460Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7460Y-2013-08-23), registration cancelled 2013-08-23, S/N 30-523, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-523 - Airframe hours: 8749 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-C1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320-C1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 12, 2004 - Departed: 1L1, Panaca, NV - Destination: EVW, Evanston, WY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: EVW, Uinta County-Burns Field, runway 23, 7,301 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: fatal; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 13, 2003; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 26,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: EVW, 1 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 20040523010219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040523010219A), May 23, 2004: Piper PA30, Evanston, WY, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) The aircraft impacted rising terrain approximately 400 feet short and 200 feet right of the runway during a VOR DME approach to runway 23 at kevw. Night… 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.