Piper PA 28-180 accident near Green River, Utah, June 19, 2003
On June 19, 2003 at about 1:05 am local time, a Piper PA 28-180, registered N2537R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Green River, Utah (Mexican Mountain airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
pilot's improper preflight planning and failure to maintain obstacle clearance. Contributing factors include improper short field takeoff procedures and the high vegetation at the end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2003 · about 1:05 am local time
- Place
- Green River, Utah · Mexican Mountain · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-180 · all PA 28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N2537R · no longer on the register · serial 28-5644
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane was departing to the west. The pilot stated that he had "failed to leave enough [room] to get proper airspeed" to clear the brush at the west end of the runway. The airplane impacted the brush. During the impact, the right wing separated from the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 319 hours in all; 226 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,235 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 2002; 210 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Mexican Mountai UT
- Destination: RIF Richfield UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from PUC, 39 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.