Piper PA-32R-301 accident near Logan, Utah, July 18, 2003
On July 18, 2003 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301, registered N8036D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Logan, Utah (Logan-Cache airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power due to partial mechanical failure, which resulted in a forced landing. Contributing factors include the pilot's improper preflight planning/preparation, the improper rigging of the propeller governor control, the high density altitude conditions, and the tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2003 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Logan, Utah · Logan-Cache · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301s on the register
- Registration
- N8036D · registry record · serial 32R8213021
- 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's statement, he arrived at Logan at 1830. When he checked the weather, the temperature was 90 degrees and the calculated density altitude was approximately 7,000 feet. There was no wind, but an airport employee suggested using runway 35. Although the pilot had some difficulty starting the engine, all pre take-off checks were normal, and the airplane ran fine. During the taxi to runway 35, the pilot noticed that the wind was from 050 degrees at 15 knots, and he elected to use runway 17. The pilot stated that he leaned the mixture to 2,200 rpm, accelerated to 80 knots, and rotated. Following rotation, the airplane continued to accelerate, but would only climb approximately 20 to 25 feet above the runway. The pilot adjusted the mixture and attempted to add more power but the engine would not respond. With no runway remaining, he continued on the departure heading and made a forced landing in a field just past the end of the runway. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed that the airplane was full of fuel, the throttle was at idol, the mixture was lean, the propeller was at high rpm, and the flaps were in the retracted position. Although the landing gear selector lever was in the "up" position, the ground scars at the initial impact point, and the damage to the landing gear, were consistent with the landing gear being in the extended position. An examination of the engine revealed that all the spark plugs were worn in a "football" shape. The shielding was exposed on the number 5 cylinder's bottom spark plug wire. A "small hole, approximate size of a pencil tip" was located on the manifold pressure tube for the number 5 cylinder. The propeller pitch control was found full forward and in contact with the pedestal stop prior to the governor stop, which would "restrict its travel to full rpm by 1/8 inch. With the engine and controls in this condition, it would not be possible for the engine to make the take-off rpm of 2,700.
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, student
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,270 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 27, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,216.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 11, 2002; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGU Logan UT
- Destination: LGU
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,931 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 31.14 inHg
- Observation at 7:57 pm from KLGU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.