# NTSB DEN89FA041: Piper PA-28R-201T, N3110Q, Arvada, WY, December 15, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 15, 1988, 05:50 local (12:50 UTC)
- Place: Arvada, WY
- Coordinates: 44.759647, -106.089485 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7596&lon=-106.0895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17573
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89FA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17573/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA041

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - wing,spar - overload
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight control,stabilator - overload
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT ENTERED CLOUDS AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, CRASHED NEAR THE CITY OF ARVADA, WY. THE FLIGHT CONSISTED OF TWO AIRCRAFT, FLYING TOGETHER IN LOOSE FORMATION, AT NIGHT, UNDER A LAYER OF CLOUDS. THE PLT OF THE LEAD ACFT ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 2 MIN ELAPSED WHEN HE HEARD THE PLT OF N3110Q SHOUT OUT AN EXPLETIVE. THAT WAS THE LAST TRANSMISSION HEARD. AN AIR SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED AND THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ALONGSIDE THE POWER RIVER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DISCLOSED NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. THE STABILATOR HALVES AND THE LEFT WING WERE FOUND 266 YARDS WEST OF THE WRECKAGE. NO CORROSION OR FATIGUE FAILURES WERE NOTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3110Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3110Q-1990-07-20), registration cancelled 1990-07-20, S/N 28R7703092 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201T (PA-28R-201)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7703092
- Airframe hours: 3833
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-F2 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: West Industrial Electric, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 8, 1988, 71 hours before
- Departed: GCC, GILLETTE, WY
- Destination: BIL, BILLINGS, MT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 273 total, 107 in this make and model, 202 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 7 °F, dew point 1 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SHR, 35 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 19881215054529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881215054529A), Dec 15, 1988: Piper PA28R201T, Arvada, WY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Erratic flight observed. Prior pilot report trouble in clouds. Wing separated. Pilot not instrument rated.

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.