# NTSB DEN89FA192: Piper PA-28-235, N9084W, Bullfrog, UT, August 12, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 12, 1989, 11:35 local (17:35 UTC)
- Place: Bullfrog, UT
- Coordinates: 37.570869, -110.320716 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5709&lon=-110.3207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17602
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89FA192
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17602/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA192

## Probable cause

IMPROPER FLARE BY THE PILOT, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT, AND THE IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND OBJECTS (RUNWAY LIGHT AND SMUDGE POT) WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - runway light (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted
  - aborted landing - attempted, pilot in command
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted

## Analysis

THE PLT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING & FILED A VFR FLT PLAN FROM SALT LAKE CITY TO BULLFROG, UT. THE WX WAS VFR. THE FLT PROCEEDED UNEVENTFULLY UNTIL A LANDING WAS MADE AT BULLFROG. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT TOUCHDOWN HARD, BOUNCE, & DEPART THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE ACFT THEN STRUCK A RWY LIGHT & A SMUDGE POT. IT WAS OBSERVED TO LIFT OFF & ENTER A STEEP LEFT BANK. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CRASHED IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE & BEGAN BURNING. THE ACFT WAS DEMOLISHED BY IMPACT & FIRE. DENSITY ALT AT THE ARPT WAS APRX 6500 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9084W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9084W-1990-07-16), registration cancelled 1990-07-16, S/N 2810687 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-10687
- Airframe hours: 3112
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: J. Marves Mahoney
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 1988
- Departed: U42, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: U07, Bullfrog Basin, runway 19, 3,500 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 700 total, 121 in this make and model, 408 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °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 19890812028799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890812028799A), Aug 12, 1989: Piper PA28235, Bullfrog, UT, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Bounced hard enough to knock off a wheel then stalled, crashed on a road and burned during go around. Flaps down.

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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