# NTSB DEN82FTC07: Piper 18, N83503, Labarge, WY, July 21, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: July 21, 1982, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Labarge, WY
- Location: 42.2608° N, 110.1972° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of La Barge, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2608&lon=-110.1972&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71299
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82FTC07
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71299/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82FTC07

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, other
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A POWER LINE PATROL MISSION. THE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT WAS ACTING AS AN OBSERVER. HE WAS ALSO ALONG TO ASSIST THE COMPANY IN ROUTE FAMILIARIZATION OF THE PILOT, BUT WAS ASSIGNED NO OTHER OFFICIAL CREWMEMBER DUTIES. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE AIRCREW WERE PATROLLING THE LINE TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST WITH A HEAD WIND. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE ON THE LEEWARD SIDE OF STEEPLY RISING TERRAIN. THE WRECKAGE WAS CONFINED WITHIN A RADIUS OF 30 FT WITH EXCEPTION OF A FUEL CAP AND RED NAVIGATION LIGHT THAT WERE SLIGHTLY FARTHER AWAY. NO PREIMPACT FAILURES WERE FOUND AND FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 7000 FT MSL AND THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 10,000 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83503](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83503-2017-05-31), registration cancelled 2017-05-31, S/N 18-7709052 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER 18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 187709052
- Airframe hours: 1733
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: Exec. Air Service, Inc.
- Registered owner: Exec. Air Service, Inc.
- Departed: PINEDALE, WY
- Destination: SALT LAKE CITY, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 3,300 total, 110 in this make and model, 56 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 192 °F

## 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 19820721034199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820721034199A), Jul 21, 1982: Piper PA18150, Labarge, WY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Vertical impact indicates aircraft stalled when pilot pulled up to avoid rising terrain on powerline patrol.

## Other investigations on N83503 (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 FTW78DRG74](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78DRG74), Mar 15, 1978: Piper PA-18 (N83503), Zapata, TX, 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.

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