Piper PA-28-235 N8537N
19 October 1998 · Buffalo, Wyoming, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 19 October 1998 at about 00:50 local time, a Piper PA-28-235 registered N8537N was involved in an accident near Buffalo, Wyoming, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Buffalo, Wyoming, United States
- Coordinates
- 44.3404, -106.7102
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235
- Registration
- N8537N
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Mobridge → Billings
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- DEN99FA012
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The non-instrument rated pilot's initiated flight into adverse weather conditions and inadvertently flew into IMC weather conditions. Factors were the low ceiling weather conditions, the dark night light conditions, and a non operating VOR navigational aid.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The non-instrument rated pilot departed on a VFR flight plan direct to his destination (altitude of 6,500 feet msl). Approximately 25 minutes after departure, he diverted south and then west. Approximately 90 minutes after takeoff, the pilot radioed Flight Watch to request a weather update. At that time, he said that 'it was getting a little soupy out here.' Sunset was at 1847. The weather conditions en route, at 1836, were deteriorating, with cloud ceilings lowered to 1,500 feet agl and scattered clouds at 800 feet agl. The VOR, near the accident site, was inoperable due to electrical power failure. The pilot radioed Flight Watch at 1845, and requested help to identify his location. The airplane impacted the mountain at approximately 1850 at approximately 7,000 feet msl. The accident site was approximately 100 nm south of his flight plan route.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-28 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct 1998 | Piper PA-28-140 | Bad Axe, Michigan, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Aug 1998 | Piper PA-28-235 | Mineola, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Nov 1998 | Piper PA-28-180 | Iowa Falls, Iowa, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1998 | Piper PA-28-161 | Whitefield, New Hampshire, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jun 1998 | Piper PA-28-180 | Holly Springs, Mississippi, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Nov 1998 | Piper PA-28-161 | Melfa, Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
All 9,402 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jul 1998 | Piper PA-22-135 | Rock Springs, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jul 1998 | Cessna 500 | Rawlins, Wyoming, United States | Skyward Aviation Ltd | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1998 | Grumman American AA-5B | Cody, Wyoming, United States | Donald W. Smith | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jan 1998 | Cessna 182Q | Keeline, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jan 1998 | Cessna 172 | Laramie, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Feb 1998 | Piper PA-18-105 | Sheridan, Wyoming, United States | - | No injuries | - |