# NTSB DEN84LA060: Cessna 425, N6884G, Big Piney, WY, December 24, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 24, 1983, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Big Piney, WY
- Coordinates: 42.540283, -110.110145 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5403&lon=-110.1101&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16316
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16316/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA060

## 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
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THE PLT TELEPHONED THE FBO AT BIG PINEY ARPT. HE WAS ADVISED OF THE POOR WX CONDITIONS THAT EXISTED AT THE ARPT & WAS ALSO ADVISED NOT TO LAND AT THE ARPT. THE ACFT WAS LATER OBSERVED TO LAND AT BIG PINEY ARPT, TOUCH DOWN ON THE SNOW COVERED RWY 31 & ABRUPTLY TURN 90 DEG LEFT INTO A 3-FT HIGH SNOWBANK. THE PLT SAID THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A WHITEOUT CONDITION WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DISTINGUISH FEATURES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6884G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 425
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 425-0136
- Airframe hours: 320
- Engines: P&W PT6A-112 500 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Petro Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 29, 1983, 25 hours before
- Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BPI, Big Piney Municipal, runway 31, 6,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,130 total, 37 in this make and model, 4,940 as pilot in command, 155 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 9 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft
- Temperature: -0 °F
- 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 19831224075859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831224075859A), Dec 24, 1983: Cessna 425, Big Piney, WY, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted landing on snow covered runway which caused aircraft to veer into a snowbank.

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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