# NTSB DEN84FA194: Piper PA-28-140, N98220, Cedar City, UT, June 25, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 24, 1984, 20:00 local (Jun 25, 1984, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Cedar City, UT
- Coordinates: 37.589519, -113.190521 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5895&lon=-113.1905&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16222
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA194
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16222/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA194

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - aircraft performance,landing capability - exceeded (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - stall - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN IN A BOX CANYON. THE PLT SAID HE FOUND HIMSELF TRAPPED WITH THE TERRAIN COMING UP 'TO MEET THE PLANE' AND DECIDED TO TRY AND LAND ON A NEARBY ROAD. THE ACFT STALLED INTO TREES PRIOR TO REACHING THE ROAD. THE PLT ALSO SAID HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE TERRITORY. A PLT WHO FLYS THIS CANYON OFTEN SAID THAT THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RIDGE HAS DOWNDRAFTS. THE DENSITY ALT WAS COMPUTED TO BE 7836 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N98220 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2826113
- Airframe hours: 3500
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: George Yoakum
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1984
- Destination: PGA, PAGE, AZ
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 257 total, 257 in this make and model, 227 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Not reported

## 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 19840624026669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840624026669A), Jun 24, 1984: Piper PA28140, Cedar City, UT, Destroyed. Flew into box canyon in error. Struck tree while landing on road. Aircraft front portion consumed by fire.

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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