# NTSB DEN83FA108: Piper 28-180, N7295W, Alpine, WY, May 3, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 3, 1983, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Alpine, WY
- Coordinates: 43.159091, -111.010215 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1591&lon=-111.0102&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15983
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15983/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA108

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN IMC WEATHER. THE PILOT HAD BEEN BRIEFED ON THE WEATHER. PART OF THE OBSERVATION CALLED FOR MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION BY CLOUDS OR PRECIPITATION. A PERSON WHO RESIDES IN ALPINE, WY SAID THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE OBSCURED AND THERE WERE SNOW SHOWERS IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT STRUCK THE SNOW COVERED RISING TERRAIN IN A NOSE HIGH RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE AT THE 9500 FT LEVEL. THE PLT HAD FILED A VFR FLT PLAN WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED AND HAD NOT FLOWN THIS ROUTE BEFORE. THE PILOTS FLT LOG REVEALED THAT THE PLT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY MOUNTAIN FLYING INSTRUCTION BEFORE OR AFTER RECEIVING HIS PLTS LICENSE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7295W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7295W-2013-05-07), registration cancelled 2013-05-07, S/N 28-1140, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER 28-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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: 28-1140
- Airframe hours: 2033
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gerald D. & Billye Dee, C.Ward
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 9, 1982, 33 hours before
- Departed: MSO, MISSOULA, MT
- Destination: RKS, ROCK SPRINGS, WY
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 97 total, 9 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day

## 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 19830503025449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830503025449A), May 3, 1983: Piper PA28180, Alpine, WY, Destroyed. Pilot continued into mountainous area where mountain tops were obscured and snow showers were observed.

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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