# NTSB DEN83FA116: Cessna 172P, N54609, Lander, WY, May 22, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 21, 1983, 19:30 local (May 22, 1983, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Lander, WY
- Coordinates: 42.83007, -108.720275 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8301&lon=-108.7203&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15986
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15986/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA116

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence(thunderstorms) (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AT NOON ON 5/21/83, THE PLT DEPARTED RIVERTON, WY ON A FLT TO OGDEN, UT TO TRANSPORT A MINISTER BACK TO RIVERTON FOR A WEDDING. AFTER ARRIVING AT OGDEN, HE OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING FOR THE RETURN FLT. HE WAS WARNED OF POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMACTIVITY, TURBULENCE, LOW CEILINGS & STRONG, GUSTY WINDS. THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS TOLD THAT IN THE VICINITY OF LANDER & ROCK SPRINGS, WY, THERE WERE RAIN SHOWERS, AND WITH THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY, VFR FLT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE. THE PLTFILED A VFR FLT PLAN & STATED HE WOULD 'TAKE A LOOK-SEE.' AT 1729, HE TOOK OFF. THERE WAS NO EN ROUTE RADIO CONTACT, EXCEPT WHEN HE REQUESTED & WAS PROVIDED THE RIVERTON WX. AT APRX 1930, A RESIDENT NEAR THE CRASH SITE HEARD A SMALL ACFTFLYING LOW. SHE REPORTED THUNDER, LIGHTNING, THICK FOG & HEAVY SNOWFALL AT THAT TIME. WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE AT RIVERTON, A SEARCH WAS BEGUN. IT WAS FOUND NEAR A MOUNTAIN PASS WHERE IT CRASHED ON A RIDGE IN A 45 DEG NOSE DOWN, WINGSLEVEL ATTITUDE. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO MOVEMENT AFTER IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS REPORTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54609](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54609-1984-03-01), registration cancelled 1984-03-01, S/N 17275011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172-75011
- Airframe hours: 383
- Engines: AVCO LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Roger Peters
- Registered owner: Arthur Rex Rogers
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 18, 1983, 1 hours before
- Departed: OGD, OGDEN, UT
- Destination: RIW, RIVERTON, WY
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 229 total, 100 in this make and model, 142 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LND, 23 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 19830521025499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830521025499A), May 21, 1983: Cessna 172P, Lander, WY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Indicates VFR pilot lost control in area of low ceilings,rain, snow and turbulence. 45 degree nose down impact.

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.