Piper PA-32R-300 N175MC
19 December 1994 · Grantsville, Utah, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 19 December 1994 at about 00:25 local time, a Piper PA-32R-300 registered N175MC was involved in an accident near Grantsville, Utah, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 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 00:25
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Grantsville, Utah, United States
- Coordinates
- 40.6693, -112.7607
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300
- Registration
- N175MC
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Salt Lake City → Wendover
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- SEA95FA031
People
4 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE VFR PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
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 RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR A VFR FLIGHT OVER 5 HOURS BEFORE HE ACTUALLY DEPARTED. HE AND HIS THREE PASSENGERS DEPARTED AT NIGHT IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND IN VFR CONDITIONS WITH THE INTENTION OF FLYING TO AN AIRPORT LOCATED 90 MILES AWAY FOR DINNER. THE PILOT RECEIVED ATC RADAR ADVISORIES AND REPORTED THAT THE CEILINGS WERE GETTING LOWER ALONG HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. HE WAS ADVISED BY ATC THAT AREAS OF LEVEL ONE AND TWO PRECIPITATION EXISTED IN FRONT OF HIM. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND AFTER ATC SERVICES WERE TERMINATED. RADAR DATA FOR THE AIRPLANE WAS LOST SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A MOUNTAIN RIDGE ABOUT 6,200 FEET MSL AND WAS DESTROYED. THE RIDGE IS LOCATED ALONG A DIRECT LINE FROM THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. NO DISTRESS CALLS WERE RECORDED FROM THE PILOT, AND NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES WERE FOUND. LOCALIZED ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, INCLUDING LOW CEILINGS AND SNOW, WERE REPORTED MOVING WEST TO EAST AS THE AIRPLANE FLEW EAST TO WEST.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-32R accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-32R-301 | Live Oak, Florida, United States | Barker, Sirios C. | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Apr 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Salem, Ohio, United States | Affordable Leasing, Inc. | Fatal | 3 |
| 19 Aug 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Roanoke, Virginia, United States | Kulwicki, Joseph F. | Fatal | 2 |
| 7 Feb 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Norfolk, Virginia, United States | Guardione Vincent & Michael | No injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Berlin, New Jersey, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Nov 1994 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Tripui, Mexico | Flyers, Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 May 1994 | Hallstrom BD-5B | St. George, Utah, United States | Hallstrom, Floyd P. | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 May 1994 | Kelly LONG EZ | Lindon, Utah, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 May 1994 | Christen HUSKY | Ogden, Utah, United States | Hanson, Barbara L. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jun 1994 | 1ST Ftr Gp FOCKE-WULF 190 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Peterson, Jeffrey G. | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 May 1994 | Cessna 182P | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Professional Flight Services | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 1994 | Hughes 369HS | West Jordan, Utah, United States | Scenic Helicopters | No injuries | - |