# NTSB DEN85FA227: Piper PA-31B-310, N7497L, Vernal, UT, August 21, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1985, 06:51 local (12:51 UTC)
- Place: Vernal, UT
- Coordinates: 40.550426, -109.569633 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5504&lon=-109.5696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16554
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FA227
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16554/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FA227

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - normal
  - terrain condition - ground (contributing factor)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fatigue(chronic), pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - open field (contributing factor)
  - fatigue(lack of sleep), pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dawn (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT CANCELLED HIS IFR PLAN AND BEGAN DESCENT FROM 13000 FT IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING AT VERNAL, UT. THE ACFT IMPACTED GROUND IN WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE UNDER POWER. PLT WAS SERIOUSLY BURNED BY POST-CRASH GROUND FIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FLIGHT CONTROL FAILURE PRIOR TO IMPACT. IT WAS LEARNED PLT HAD FLOWN SMALL ACFT FROM SALT LAKE CITY TO PRICE, UT, AND TO PIERRE, SD, THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. PLT RETURNED TO SALT LAKE CITY AT 0200 ON DAY OF ACCIDENT. ACCIDENT FLT DEPARTED SALT LAKE CITY AT 0600. FAA PHYSICIAN OPINED THAT PLT WAS ASLEEP AT IMPACT. ACFT WAS FLYING INTO RISING SUN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7497L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31B-310
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 317300928
- Airframe hours: 7946
- Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: California Air Charter, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 14, 1985, 11 hours before
- Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Destination: VEL, VERNAL, UT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: VEL, Vernal, runway 34, 6,605 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,556 total, 207 in this make and model, 835 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 153 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VEL, 8 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 19850821039829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850821039829A), Aug 21, 1985: Piper PA31, Vernal, UT, Destroyed. Pilot was fatigued from a lack of rest. Started a descent and fell asleep. Airplane descended to ground impact.

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.