# NTSB DEN87FA017: Piper PA-32-301T, N8216V, Cheyenne, WY, November 7, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 6, 1986, 18:42 local (Nov 7, 1986, 01:42 UTC)
- Place: Cheyenne, WY
- Coordinates: 41.139343, -104.789329 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1393&lon=-104.7893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17081
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87FA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17081/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87FA017

## Analysis

THE PLT AND HIS TWO PAX WERE ON A VFR X-COUNTRY TO SCOTTSBLUFF, NE, WHEN IMC WAS ENCOUNTERED NEAR GRAND JUNCTION, CO. THE PLT THEN CALLED ATC AND OBTAINED AN IFR CLEARANCE. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND AT CHEYENNE, WY. WX WAS REPORTED TO BE 500 OVERCAST, 1/4 MI VISIBILITY, 1 MI TOWER VISIBILITY, LIGHT RAIN, LIGHT SNOW, FOG. DURING LETDOWN TO THE IAF THE ACFT ACCUMULATED HEAVY ICE AND THE PLT REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE FAF. A/C DENIED REQUEST BECAUSE RADAR WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT CHEYENNE. WITH FULL PWR ACFT DESCENDED BELOW THE GLIDESLOPE. THE PLT SAID THE ACFT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO CLIMB AND HE EXECUTED A MISSED APCH. THE ACFT THEN BEGAN TO STALL AND LOSE ALT. THE PLT MADE AN EMERG OFF-ARPT FORCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - preflight briefing service - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - atc clearance - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, missed approach (ifr)
  - aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded (contributing factor)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising
  - terrain condition - snow covered
  - terrain condition - open field
  - object - fence

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8216V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8216V-1993-05-11), registration cancelled 1993-05-11, S/N 328224010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-301T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-301t) (registry code 7103209) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-8224010
- Airframe hours: 732
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Vladimir Riha
- Registered owner: Scheri American Ltd.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 1986, 11 hours before
- Departed: OZN, ST. GEORGE, UT
- Destination: BFF, SCOTTSBLUFF, NE
- Airport: CYS, Cheyenne, runway 26, 9,200 × 150 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 597 total, 43 in this make and model, 490 as pilot in command, 152 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 90° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CYS, 7 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 19861106053609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861106053609A), Nov 6, 1986: Piper PA32301T, Cheyenne, WY, Substantial damage. The ice covered aircraft was unable to climb and impacted the ground. Pilot failed to update weather briefing.

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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