# NTSB DEN81FA026: Piper PA-28, N44900, Rock Springs, WY, March 29, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 29, 1981
- Place: Rock Springs, WY · ROCK SPRINGS, WY
- Location: 41.5947° N, 109.2209° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rock Springs, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5947&lon=-109.2209&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 6, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126618
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FA026
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FA026

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2944  81/3/29  NR.ROCK SPRINGS,WY    PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 47, 1222
        TIME - 2330                    N44900              PX-  1  2  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 500 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ROCK SPRINGS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          COLORADO SPRINGS,CO         EVANSTON,WYOMING
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              30
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          340                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- EXEC MISSED APCH,ILS RWY27.RPRTD ARPT IN SIGHT,CANCELLED IFR.CRASHED 3/4MI E OF ARPT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N44900](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44900-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 28R-7737150, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Rock Springs

## 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 19810329012909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810329012909A), Mar 29, 1981: Piper PA28R201, Rock Springs, WY, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Pilot continued flight in IMC and aircraft crashed during attempted instrument approach to airport.

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.

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