# NTSB DEN84FA047: Piper 602P, N6894P, Rock Springs, WY, December 23, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 22, 1983, 18:27 local (Dec 23, 1983, 01:27 UTC)
- Place: Rock Springs, WY
- Location: 41.5942° N, 109.0652° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SOUTHWEST WYOMING RGNL (RKS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5942&lon=-109.0652&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16189
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16189/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA047

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - airport snow removal - not possible, airport personnel (cause)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT SWERVED OFF THE SNOW-COVERED RWY DURING LANDING. THE SNOW PLOW EQUIPMENT OPERATOR WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE RWY CLEAR DUE TO STRONG WINDS. FINGER DRIFTS DEVELOPED SOON AFTER EACH PLOWING. TWO FOOT SNOW BANKS EXISTED ON EITHER SIDE OF THE RWY. THE SNOW BANK ON THE LEFT SIDE BORE EVIDENCE OF WHEEL MARKS WHERE THE ACFT CROSSED THROUGH, PARRALLED THE RWY AND RE-ENTERED THE RUNWAY. THE ACFT CAME TO REST ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE RWY. THE PLT SAID THAT HE FELT THE THE LEFT GEAR HIT A DRIFT, THE ACFT SWERVED AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE NIGHT WAS DARK AND THE WEATHER WAS INDEFINITE CEILING 400 FT SKY OBSCURED, VISIBILITY 1 1/4 MILES IN LIGHT SNOW AND FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6894P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER 602P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 62P090781650
- Airframe hours: 389
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540AA1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Sky Harbor Air Services, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 1983, 62 hours before
- Departed: JAC, JACKSON, WY
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: RKS, Rock Springs, runway 27, 10,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,823 total, 91 in this make and model, 3,169 as pilot in command, 141 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 40° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 125 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 5 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RKS

## 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 19831222064819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831222064819A), Dec 22, 1983: Piper PA60600, Rock Springs, WY, Substantial damage. Left main sheel entered snow drifts and pulled aircraft off to left of runway then collapsed gear.

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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