Piper PA-32-300 N9242C

Summary

On 6 February 1996 at about 20:37 local time, a Piper PA-32-300 registered N9242C was involved in an accident near Heber City, Utah, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 February 1996 at 20:37

Classification

Accident

Location

Heber City, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Heber City Municipal (36U)

Coordinates

40.4295, -111.1909

Aircraft

Piper PA-32-300

Registration

N9242C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Apple Valley → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA96LA049

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's attempted VFR flight into IMC, and his failure to maintain adequate altitude and clearance from terrain during the landing flare. Factors contributing to the accident were the snowbank, fog, and the pilot's complacent attitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-instrument rated private pilot stated that the visibility near his destination was reduced due to fog, but he thought he had enough visibility to land on runway 3. As he entered the base leg, he overshot the runway and attempted to correct. During the landing, the left main landing gear struck a snowbank on the edge of the runway, and the airplane was pulled into the ground. The left wing was torn off in the impact. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. Under the 'Recommendation' section of the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot suggested 'avoid complacent attitude' to prevent the accident from occurring again.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.