# NTSB DEN84FA242: Piper PA-28-181, N8445F, Park Valley, UT, July 30, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 29, 1984, 21:52 local (Jul 30, 1984, 03:52 UTC)
- Place: Park Valley, UT
- Coordinates: 41.739429, -113.439666 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7394&lon=-113.4397&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16233
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA242
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16233/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA242

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - total, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

NEWLY CERTIFICATED PVT PLT DEPARTED ON A MOONLESS NIGHT FOR A VFR FLT. ROUTE OF FLT WAS OVER A DESERT LIKE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE ARE NO VISUAL CUES FOR ATTITUDE REFERENCE. ACFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWING DAY. ACFT IMPACTED TUNDRA INVERTED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. PLT'S FLIGHT LOGBOOK INDICATED A TTL OF LESS THAN 2 HRS NIGHT FLT TIME.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8445F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-82900028
- Airframe hours: 534
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Linquist Acft And Equipment
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 22, 1984, 53 hours before
- Departed: OGD, OGDEN, UT
- Destination: ENV, VENDOVER, UT
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 44 total, 4 in this make and model, 203 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 3 knots
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLC, 60 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 19840729035639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840729035639A), Jul 29, 1984: Piper PA28181, Park Valley, UT, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Impacted terrain inverted, nose low, at high speed 50 miles off course. Dark night with possible thunderstorms.

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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