# NTSB SEA08LA160: Piper PA-28-140, N7360J, East Carbon, UT, July 6, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 2008, 12:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: East Carbon, UT - Coordinates: 39.64722, -110.718887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6472&lon=-110.7189&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report January 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68390 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68390/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA160 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and decision to continue flight into a canyon area with questionable aircraft performance. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the precautionary landing and a high density altitude condition. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 43 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while flying near the top of a canyon in cruise flight, the climb performance of the airplane began to decay, and it became difficult to maintain altitude. The pilot elected to continue the flight through the canyon, and as the performance further decayed, the airplane descended below the canyon rim. The pilot stated that he made "fairly steep turn" around the corners, losing altitude each time. At an altitude of approximately 200 feet above ground level, he decided to initiate a precautionary landing in an open area near the Green River. During the landing sequence, the airplane impacted several large rocks before it came to rest upright near the river where a post crash fire ensued, consuming the airplane. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine. Using the recovered weather observations from a weather recording station located about 41 miles east of the accident site and the accident site elevation; the NTSB investigator-in-charge calculated the density altitude to be 6,708 feet msl. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, he estimated the weight of the airplane to be 2,040 pounds. The certified maximum gross weight of the airplane is 2,150 pounds. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2008, about 1245 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N7360J, was substantially damaged during an off-airport landing about 24 miles northeast of East Carbon, Utah. The commercial pilot and his passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was registered to Sports Flying Inc. of Northwood, North Dakota and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The personal flight originated from the Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY), Moab, Utah, about 1145 with an intended destination of Vernal, Utah. In a written statement, the pilot reported he was traveling from Prescott, Arizona, to Alaska for a camping trip with a few intermediate stops planned. Prior to the accident flight, he refueled the airplane with 20 gallons of 100 low-led fuel. After departing CNY, he intended to climb to a cruise altitude of 9,500 feet mean sea level (msl), which he used previously on the flight from Prescott to CNY. The pilot stated that he planned to continue northbound if he was able to climb to an altitude of 6,500 feet msl prior to entering the Green River Canyon. The pilot entered the southern part of the Green River canyon at an altitude of 6,500 feet msl. A few minutes later, he noted that the climb rate started to decay and it was difficult to maintain altitude. The pilot further reported that he was committed to flying through the canyon and it was not possible to execute a 180-degree turn. The airplane started a steady slow rate of descent below the canyon rim. The pilot added that as he was making "fairly steep turns" around the corners within the canyon, each time noting the stall warning light illuminating. As the pilot continued progressing through the canyon, he noted that during each turn, he was losing 50 to 100 feet of altitude and was unable to regain any altitude. At an altitude of approximately 200 feet above ground level, he decided to initiate a precautionary landing in an open area near the Green River. During the landing sequence, the airplane impacted several large rocks before it came to rest upright near the river where a post crash fire ensued. Examination of the airplane by the Carbon County Sheriff Department revealed that a post crash fire consumed the airplane. The fire reportedly ignited a 200-acre wild fire in the area. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine. Using the recovered weather observations from a weather recording station located about 41 miles east of the accident site and the accident site elevation of 4,280 feet msl; the NTSB investigator-in-charge calculated the density altitude to be 6,708 feet msl. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, he estimated the weight of the airplane to be 2,040 pounds. The certified maximum gross weight of the airplane is 2,150 pounds. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7360J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7360J-2009-10-13), registration cancelled 2009-10-13, S/N 28-24712, built 1968 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-24712 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John Buckner Bridewell - Registered owner: Sports Flying Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2008 - Departed: KCNY, Moab, UT - Destination: Vernal, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: serious; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 5,084 total, 200 in this make and model, 4,497 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KPUC, 41 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 20080706840139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080706840139A), Jul 6, 2008: Piper PA28140, Green River, UT, Destroyed. (-23) On July 6, 2008 at or around 12:40 pm local time, N7360J, a Piper PA-28-140, piloted by [privacy data omitted] crashed approximately 45 miles north of… ## Other investigations on N7360J (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA74FTA02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74FTA02), Jul 15, 1973: Piper PA-28 (N7360J), Flaxville, MT, substantial damage 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.