# NTSB DEN84LA257: Piper PA-38, N43DR, Cheyenne, WY, August 19, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 19, 1984, 11:55 local (17:55 UTC)
- Place: Cheyenne, WY
- Coordinates: 41.140247, -104.789527 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1402&lon=-104.7895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16460
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA257
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16460/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA257

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing
  - object - fence
  - visual lookout - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,ramp facilities - congested (cause)
  - airport operations - improper, airport personnel (cause)
  - complacency, airport personnel (cause)
  - facility inadequate, airport personnel (cause)

## Analysis

FOLLOWING AN UNEVENTFUL SOLO FLIGHT THE STUDENT PLT BEGAN TO FOLLOW A PARKING VEHICLE TO A PARKING SPOT. THE SPOT THAT THE PARKING VEHICLE DRIVER SELECTED NECESSITATED THAT THE ACFT EXECUTE A 180 DEG TURN JUST PRIOP TO STOPPING. DURING THIS TURN THE RIGHT WING OF THE ACFT STRUCK A CONSTRUCTION FENCE POST ADJACENT TO THE PARKING SPOT EVEN THOUGH THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS EXACTLY CENTERED ON THE YELLOW TAXIWAY STRIPE. DURING THE ACCIDENT THE LINEMAN MADE NO INDICATION THAT THE WINGTIP WAS GETTING CLOSE TO THE FENCE. ACCORDING TO MEASUREMENTS TAKEN AFTER THE ACCIDENT, IF THE NOSEWHEEL TRACKED EXACTLY ON THE YELLOW CENTERLINE THE RIGHT WINGTIP WOULD HAVE CLEARED THE FENCE POST BY 6 INCHES. ANOTHER LINEMAN NOT INVOLVED IN THIS MISHAP STATED THAT 'HE WAS WONDERING WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE FROM THE FENCE TO THE TAXIWAY STRIP FOR AN AIRCRAFT TO GET BY.' HE MADE THIS STATEMENT AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43DR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43DR-1997-12-13), registration cancelled 1997-12-13, S/N 3882A0016 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-82A0016
- Airframe hours: 773
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sky Harbor Air Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 19, 1984, 29 hours before
- Airport: CYS, Cheyenne Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 81 total, 31 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19840819041729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840819041729A), Aug 19, 1984: Piper PA38112, Cheyenne, WY, Substantial damage. Right wing struck a construction barier taxiing to park. Was off taxiway line. Lineman assisting failed to notice.

## Other investigations on N43DR (2)

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.

- [NTSB CHI97LA295](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA295), Sep 17, 1997: Piper PA-38-112 (N43DR), Greenwood, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the go-around, which resulted in an inadvertant stall. A factor related to the accident was the raising of flaps.
- [NTSB CHI88LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88LA109), May 8, 1988: Piper PA-38-112 (N43DR), Indianapolis, IN, substantial damage

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.