Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Arvada, Wyoming 82831
Thursday, December 15, 1988 5:50 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT ENTERED CLOUDS AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, CRASHED NEAR THE CITY OF ARVADA, WY. THE FLIGHT CONSISTED OF TWO AIRCRAFT, FLYING TOGETHER IN LOOSE FORMATION, AT NIGHT, UNDER A LAYER OF CLOUDS. THE PLT OF THE LEAD ACFT ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 2 MIN ELAPSED WHEN HE HEARD THE PLT OF N3110Q SHOUT OUT AN EXPLETIVE. THAT WAS THE LAST TRANSMISSION HEARD. AN AIR SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED AND THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ALONGSIDE THE POWER RIVER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DISCLOSED NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. THE STABILATOR HALVES AND THE LEFT WING WERE FOUND 266 YARDS WEST OF THE WRECKAGE. NO CORROSION OR FATIGUE FAILURES WERE NOTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/15/1988
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 550
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City ARVADA
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82831
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 12
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 Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 451 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 272
Weather Observation Facility ID SHR
Elevation of weather observation facility 4031
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1300
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2019
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 15 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38375
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:21PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3110Q
NTSB Number DEN89FA041
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28R-201T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-201
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7703092
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 8 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 71
Airframe Hours 3833
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WEST INDUSTRIAL ELECTRIC, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1509
Aircraft Owner City GILLETTE
Aircraft Owner State WY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 82716
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code GCC
Departure City GILLETTE
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 530
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BIL
Destination City BILLINGS
Destination State MT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
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 --