# NTSB DEN87FA134: Piper PA-28RT-201T, N2888B, Ogden, UT, May 25, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 25, 1987, 13:34 local (19:34 UTC)
- Place: Ogden, UT
- Coordinates: 41.14933, -111.979217 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1493&lon=-111.9792&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17110
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87FA134
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17110/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87FA134

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - fatigue (cause)
  - maintenance,service bulletin/letter - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - building(nonresidential)

## Analysis

ACFT DEPARTED RAPID CITY, SD, EN ROUTE TO ELKO, NV. WHILE IN CRUISE FLT IN IMC AT 12,000 FT, ENG LOST ALL PWR. ACFT WAS OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND ATC ISSUED PLT VECTORS THROUGH CANYON. ACFT BROKE OUT OF OVERCAST AT 8000 FT MSL (ABOUT 1500 FT AGL) AND 6 MI FROM ARPT. PLT ELECTED TO STRETCH GLIDE AND ATTEMPT LANDING AT ARPT INSTEAD OF LANDING IN NEARBY OPEN AREAS. ACFT STRUCK UNOCCUPIED WAREHOUSE AND CRASHED IN EMPTY SALVAGE YARD ACROSS STREET IN DOWNTOWN OGDEN, UT. DISASSEMBLY OF ENGINE REVEALED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF #1 CONNECTING ROD DUE TO FATIGUE. THE FATIGUE HAD ORIGINATED IN AN AREA OF SURFACE DECARBURIZATION AND SCALE INCLUSIONS. TELEDYNE-CONTINENTAL'S SERVICE BULLETIN M86-11 HAD NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2888B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2888B-1990-02-12), registration cancelled 1990-02-12, S/N 28R7931241 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28RT-201T (PA-28RT-20)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201t) (registry code 7102817) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7931541
- Airframe hours: 814
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-FB1 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harold Wilkinson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1986, 100 hours before
- Departed: RAP, RAPID CITY, SD
- Destination: EKO, ELKO, NV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: OGD, Ogden Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,382 total, 136 in this make and model, 1,379 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 19 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: OGD, 4 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 19870525015569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870525015569A), May 25, 1987: Piper PA28RT201T, Ogden, UT, Destroyed. Connecting rods broke IFR en route. Crashed in a salvage yard. Service bulletin recommended type rods be replaced.

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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