# NTSB DEN89LA035: Piper PA-28-140, N28EF, Chinook, MT, November 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 16, 1988, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Chinook, MT
- Coordinates: 48.470626, -109.210723 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4706&lon=-109.2107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17644
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17644/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA035

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT WAS FLYING CROSS COUNTRY, SOLO, TO TAKE A PRIVATE PLT CHECKRIDE. HE SAID HE BECAME LOST AND FLEW UNTIL THE FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED. HE SELECTED A SNOW COVERED FIELD AND LANDED. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE GEAR DUG IN AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28EF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28EF-1991-03-28), registration cancelled 1991-03-28, S/N 2824908 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7102802
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Johns Flying Service
- Registered owner: John'S Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BZN, BOZEMAN, MT
- Destination: 3U8, BIG SANDY, MT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 61 total, 41 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19881116051099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881116051099A), Nov 16, 1988: Piper PA28140, Chinook, MT, Substantial damage. Became lost on trip to take flight test. Ran out of fuel landed in a snow covered field and aircraft nosed over.

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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