# NTSB SEA91TA003: Piper PA-34, N8372Z, Pinedale, WY, January 25, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: January 25, 1991, 08:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place: Pinedale, WY
- Coordinates: 42.860786, -109.85955 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8608&lon=-109.8595&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41692
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA91TA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41692/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA91TA003

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to attain proper runway alignment during landing.  A contributing factor was a snow covered runway.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear collapsed, landing
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

On January 25, 1991, a Piper PA-34, N8372Z, was substantially damaged while landing at Ralph Wenz Field, Pinedale, Wyoming.  The pilot reported that an aircraft in front of his made a go-around because he could not positively identify the snow-covered runway.  The accident pilot stated that he aligned the aircraft parallel to, but about 80 feet left of the runway and landed the aircraft off the runway, adjacent to a snow bank.  The landing gear collapsed and the fuselage and stabilator sustained structural damage.  The flight originated from Big Piney, Wyoming, and was enroute to Pinedale.

No additional information is available.

## Factual narrative

On January 25, 1991, a Piper PA-34, N8372Z, was substantially damaged while landing at Ralph Wenz Field, Pinedale, Wyoming.  The pilot reported that an aircraft in front of his made a go-around because he could not positively identify the snow-covered runway.  The accident pilot stated that he aligned the aircraft parallel to, but about 80 feet left of the runway and landed the aircraft off the runway, adjacent to a snow bank.  The landing gear collapsed and the fuselage and stabilator sustained structural damage.  The flight originated from Big Piney, Wyoming, and was enroute to Pinedale.

No additional information is available.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8372Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8372Z-1993-11-29), registration cancelled 1993-11-29, S/N 348133071 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-220T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-220t) (registry code 7103420) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Public aircraft, Public use
- Operator: Department Of Interior
- Departed: BPI, BIG PINEY, WY
- Destination: PNA, PINEDALE, WY
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Not reported
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

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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