# NTSB DEN85FA102: Piper PA-28-181, N8359B, Vail, CO, March 22, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 21, 1985, 20:20 local (Mar 22, 1985, 03:20 UTC)
- Place: Vail, CO
- Coordinates: 39.640716, -106.389862 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6407&lon=-106.3899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16532
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA102
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16532/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA102

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command
  - meteorological service - not used, pilot in command
  - refueling - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - snow
  - light condition - dark night
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - rising
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

THE PLT DID NOT OBTAIN A WX BRIEFING, FILE A FLIGHT PLAN OR REFUEL THE ACFT PRIOR TO DEPARTING FOR EAGLE COLORADO. THE ACFT DEPARTED AT 1800 UNDER VFR COND. THE PLT REPORTED OVER MINTURN CO AT 2019. WITNESSES AT VAIL CO STATED THAT THE WX COND WERE POOR FROM 2000 TO 2045 WITH HEAVY WET SNOW FALLING AND VISIBILITY OF 100 FT OR LESS. ONE CALLED IT A BLIZZARD. ANOTHER WITNESS SAW A PLANE ABOUT THIS TIME AT LOW ALT JUST OVER THE RIDGE BEING BURRETED BY THE WWND AND LABORING AT HIGH POWER. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACC. ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE THE ACC THE PLT HAD REQUESTED WX BY RADIO. THE WX THEN WAS REPORTED AS CEILINGS LOWERING WITH MT TOPS OBSCURED, WX DETERIORATING. THE FLT ACKNOWLEDGED THE REPORT AT 1920. HE REQUESTED WX AGAIN AT 2019. THE EAGLE FSS GAVE THE WX FOR EAGLE AND THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED. THERE WERE NO FURTHER RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8359B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8359B-2015-05-11), registration cancelled 2015-05-11, S/N 28-8190193, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 288190193
- Airframe hours: 1117
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: John M. Wyland
- Registered owner: Michael S Pinkham
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 18, 1984, 154 hours before
- Departed: 3V4, FORT MORGAN, CO
- Destination: EGE, EAGLE, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 90 total, 90 in this make and model, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19850321009239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850321009239A), Mar 21, 1985: Piper PA28181, Vail, CO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck trees in mountainous area of rising terrain at night. Fuel supply may have been exhausted. Weather a factor.

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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