Monument Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Monument Valley, Utah 84050
Friday, September 8, 1989 9:50 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

TWO ACFT THAT LANDED AHEAD OF THIS FLIGHT REPORTED WINDSHEAR ON FINAL APPROACH. THE PLT SAID THAT 1 MILE FROM THE THRESHOLD, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED A 15 KT INCREASE IN AIRSPEED, FOLLOWED BY A 15 KT DECREASE IN AIRSPEED. THE PLT SAID THE FLIGHT THEN RETURNED TO A NORMAL APPROACH PROFILE & SPEED. THEN, ON SHORT FINAL, HE HEARD THE STALL HORN AND ADVANCED BOTH THROTTLES FULL FOWARD. THE PLANE ENTERED A STEEP SINK RATE. THE PLANE STRUCK A SAND MOUND WITH THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO RECOVER AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR WINDSHEAR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/8/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 950
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City MONUMENT VALLEY
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84050
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MONUMENT VALLEY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 71V
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 5000
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
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 Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 25
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 9
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1677
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 25 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40580
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3554P
NTSB Number DEN89LA224
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31-350
Aircraft Serial Number 31-8052052
Certified Max Gross Weight 7000
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 10
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNKNOWN
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AVIATION SERVICES WEST, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO BOX 1385
Operator City PAGE
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 86040
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PGA
Departure City PAGE
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 805
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 71V
Destination City MONUMENT VALLEY
Destination State UT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 16
Runway Length 3100
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --