# NTSB DEN88LA149: Piper PA-28R-200, N4329F, Cheyenne, WY, July 8, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 8, 1988, 17:48 local (23:48 UTC)
- Place: Cheyenne, WY
- Coordinates: 41.139774, -104.789596 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1398&lon=-104.7896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17497
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA149
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17497/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA149

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED IN OMAHA, NE. THREE PASSENGERS AND THE COMMERCIAL PLT EMBARKED ON A FISHING TRIP INTO WYOMING. THE PILOT DEPARTED CHEYENNE AFTER HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND CORRECTING THE PROBLEM BY PROPER LEANING. HE SAID HE TOOK OFF WITH THE ACFT JUST UNDER GROSS WT WITH A 20 KNOT CROSSWIND AND RELATIVELY HIGH DA. THE PILOT SAID THE ACFT DID NOT RESPOND AS ANTICIPATED AND THAT THE STALL WARNING HORN WAS SOUNDING INTERMITTENTLY. THE ACFT STRUCK SOME TREES BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS OVER 8000 FT AND THE GROSS WEIGHT WAS WITHIN 1 PERCENT OF MAX GROSS WEIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4329F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4329F-1989-03-14), registration cancelled 1989-03-14, S/N 28R7635401 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R 7635401
- Airframe hours: 2075
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bell Flyers Inc
- Registered owner: Bell Flyers, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 28, 1987, 208 hours before
- Departed: CYS, CHEYENNE, WY
- Destination: SAA, SARATOGA, WY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Cheyenne, runway 26, 9,200 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 363 total, 42 in this make and model, 182 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 20 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CYS

## 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 19880708025979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880708025979A), Jul 8, 1988: Piper PA28R200, Cheyenne, WY, Substantial damage. Worried about density altitude. Took off crosswind, lost control, struck trees. Wind exceeded crosswind component.

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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