# NTSB DEN90FA092: Piper PA-24-250, N6401P, Wendover, UT, April 15, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 14, 1990, 23:30 local (Apr 15, 1990, 05:30 UTC)
- Place: Wendover, UT
- Coordinates: 40.600761, -111.959854 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6008&lon=-111.9599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 18, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17827
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90FA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17827/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90FA092

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE LACK OF SURFACE REFERENCE WHILE TAKING OFF OVER A SPARSELY POPULATED AREA UNDER DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS.

## 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
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED HE ACTIVATED THE RWY EDGE LIGHTS PRIOR TO TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF, AND TAXIED FOR 'QUITE A WHILE' BECAUSE THE TAXIWAY IS NOT LIGHTED. HE BELIEVES THE LIGHTS WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE. THE RWY LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED FOR APRX 15 MIN AFTER ACTIVATION. THE SURVIVING PAX REMEMBERED THE AIRPLANE 'TUMBLING' AFTER TAKEOFF.THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING DOWN, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED SOUTHEAST OF THE CITY, ANDPILOTS FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRPORT DESCRIBED THE AREA ALONG THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE OF RWY 21 AS 'A BLACK HOLE'. THE PILOTHAD LOGGED 4 HRS OF NIGHT TIME IN THE LAST 90 DAYS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6401P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6401P-1990-08-15), registration cancelled 1990-08-15, S/N 241511 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 241511
- Airframe hours: 2657
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1C5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sorensen, Fred
- Registered owner: Fred Sorensen
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 10, 1990, 1 hours before
- Departed: ENV
- Destination: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Airport: ENV, Wendover, runway 21, 9,100 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 635 total, 207 in this make and model, 598 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 320° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ENV

## 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 19900414008879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900414008879A), Apr 14, 1990: Piper PA24250, Wendover, UT, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Pilot activated runway lights, went off per 15 minute timer as pilot turned downwind after takeoff. Lost control.

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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