# NTSB SEA93LA016: Piper PA-28R-180, N4935J, Evanston, WY, November 5, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 4, 1992, 22:30 local (Nov 5, 1992, 05:30 UTC)
- Place: Evanston, WY
- Coordinates: 41.249542, -110.96054 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2495&lon=-110.9605&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42958
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA016
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42958/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA016

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S DISREGARD OF HAZARDOUS WEATHER ADVISORY, RESULTING IN FLT INTO FORECAST ICING CONDITIONS IN AN ACFT NOT EQUIPPED OR CERTIFIED FOR THE FLT, AND THE IMPROPER INFLT PLANNING BY PILOT DURING THE VFR APPROACH THAT RESULTED IN IMPACT WITH TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.  A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION TO SCRAPING ICE FROM THE WINDSHIELD DURING THE VFR APPROACH FOR LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - icing conditions
  - hazardous weather advisory - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
  - anti-ice/deice system - not installed
- Undershoot, approach
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING, FILED A FLT PLAN AND TOOK OFF ON AN IFR X COUNTRY FLT INTO AN AREA OF FORECAST MODERATE ICING CONDITIONS IN AN ACFT NOT EQUIPPED OR CERTIFIED FOR THE FLT.  WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED ACFT ICING DURING THE FLT, HE REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT, AND WAS CLEARED FOR AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH FOR LANDING.  AFTER FLYING THE APPROACH, THE PILOT CIRCLED IN VMC WHILE SCRAPING ICE FROM THE WINDSHIELD FOR VISBY TO LAND.  THE ACFT DESCENDED BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE APRT, LOCATED ON A BLUFF, AND WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB TO REACH THE RUNWAY FOR LANDING. THE ACFT IMPACTED ON THE SIDE OF THE BLUFF 1/2 MILE FROM THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4935J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4935J-1995-02-07), registration cancelled 1995-02-07, S/N 28R30657 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-306657
- Airframe hours: 5484
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-B1E 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aero Center 1, Inc
- Registered owner: Sky Air, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 9, 1992, 37 hours before
- Departed: GCC, GILLETTE, WY
- Destination: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: EVW, Uinta County, runway 23, 7,301 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 432 total, 74 in this make and model, 374 as pilot in command, 113 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EVW, 1 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 19921104045139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921104045139A), Nov 4, 1992: Piper PA28R180, Evanston, WY, Substantial damage. Diverted due airframe icing. Crashed short of runway trying clear ice on windshield. Was advised icing en route.

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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