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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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March 6, 1983 · Piper PA-28-181 · N8406F

Evanston, WY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 6, 1983
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Evanston, WY
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-181
Tail Number
N8406F
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN83FA072

WHEN EN ROUTE, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES WHERE THEY CROSSED OVER A HIGHWAY ABOUT 39 FT AGL. TWO WITNESSES NEAR THIS LOCATION REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS FLYING LOW & WAS FOLLOWING THE HIGHWAY ON A WESTERLY HEADING WHEN THE ACFT STRUCK THE WIRES. THE WIRE STRIKE OCCURRED AS THE ACFT WAS STARTING TO CROSS A VALLEY ABOUT 8 MI WIDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO RISING TERRAIN ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE VALLEY. WITNESSES IN CARS NEAR THAT AREA STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS FLYING LOW OVER THE HIGHWAY & WAS ZIG-ZAGGING BACK & FORTH. JUST PRIOR TO CRASHING, THEY SAW THE ACFT GO INTO A STEEP BANK, THEN IT DISAPPEARED FROM THEIR VIEW AS IT WENT BEHIND A HILL. AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT WAS IN NEAR LEVEL FLT WHEN IT HIT TREES ON THE SIDE OF A HILL, THEN IT CRASHED INTO A 9 DEG RISING SLOPE. THE PLT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED & COULD NOT RECALL THE FLT OR THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A DARK NIGHT WITH LOW CEILINGS & WITH LIGHT SNOW FALLING.

Full Narrative

WHEN EN ROUTE, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES WHERE THEY CROSSED OVER A HIGHWAY ABOUT 39 FT AGL. TWO WITNESSES NEAR THIS LOCATION REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS FLYING LOW & WAS FOLLOWING THE HIGHWAY ON A WESTERLY HEADING WHEN THE ACFT STRUCK THE WIRES. THE WIRE STRIKE OCCURRED AS THE ACFT WAS STARTING TO CROSS A VALLEY ABOUT 8 MI WIDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED INTO RISING TERRAIN ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE VALLEY. WITNESSES IN CARS NEAR THAT AREA STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS FLYING LOW OVER THE HIGHWAY & WAS ZIG-ZAGGING BACK & FORTH. JUST PRIOR TO CRASHING, THEY SAW THE ACFT GO INTO A STEEP BANK, THEN IT DISAPPEARED FROM THEIR VIEW AS IT WENT BEHIND A HILL. AN EXAM OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT WAS IN NEAR LEVEL FLT WHEN IT HIT TREES ON THE SIDE OF A HILL, THEN IT CRASHED INTO A 9 DEG RISING SLOPE. THE PLT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED & COULD NOT RECALL THE FLT OR THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A DARK NIGHT WITH LOW CEILINGS & WITH LIGHT SNOW FALLING.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:16 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-181
Tail NumberN8406F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4M · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 52 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind360° @ 10 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingOvercast 4000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point37 C / 30 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data