# NTSB DEN85LA047: Piper PA-22-135, N3648A, Taylor, UT, December 22, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 22, 1984, 15:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Taylor, UT
- Location: 41.2272° N, 112.0836° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Taylor, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2272&lon=-112.0836&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16613
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16613/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA047

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - throttle/power control - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - terrain condition - snowbank
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

ACFT COLLIDED WITH A PILE OF SNOW NEAR THE EDGE OF RWY WHILE LANDING. PLT STATED HE MISJUDGED THE APCH AND REDUCED POWER PREMATURELY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3648A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-135
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-1908
- Airframe hours: 2674
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenneth Boydston
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 29, 1978, 149 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 255 total, 255 in this make and model, 212 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 30 °F

## 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 19841222069059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841222069059A), Dec 22, 1984: Piper PA22135, Taylor, UT, Substantial damage. Final approach too low. Hit snowbank at end of runway, flipped over.

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.
