Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pinedale, Wyoming 82941
Friday, January 25, 1991 8:20 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/25/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 820
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City PINEDALE
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82941
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Not Reported
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22765
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 21 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 3 2007 12:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8372Z
NTSB Number SEA91TA03
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Public Use
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-34
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-34
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight 4750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 0
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City BOISE
Operator State ID
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 83715
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BPI
Departure City BIG PINEY
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PNA
Destination City PINEDALE
Destination State WY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 21 2007 12:05PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --