Piper PA-30 accident near Evanston, Wyoming, May 24, 2004
On May 24, 2004 at about 3:13 am local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N7460Y, was destroyed in an accident near Evanston, Wyoming (Uinta County-Burns Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors include snow, low ceiling, icing conditions, and the dark night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2004 · about 3:13 am local time
- Place
- Evanston, Wyoming · Uinta County-Burns Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N7460Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-523
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), the pilot contacted them requesting a pop-up IFR clearance. The accident airplane was cleared for the VOR DME runway 23 approach. The pilot acknowledged his clearance and no further communications were received. According to ARTCC radar, the airplane's last position was 1 3/4 miles west of the airport at 7,700 feet msl. The IFR flight plan was not closed and further communications were not established with the pilot. At approximately 2120, ARTCC contacted the airport and initiated a search for the airplane. At 2340, airport personnel located the airplane approximately 150 yards northeast of runway 23. According to the Evanston Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) taken at 2053, the weather was reported as follows: winds 200 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 1 statute mile, light snow, mist; sky condition scattered 200 feet agl, overcast 600 feet agl; temperature 0 degrees Celsius (C), dewpoint 0 degrees C; altimeter 29.96 inches. Weather radar indicated an area of freezing precipitation in the Evanston area at the time of the accident. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 26,000 hours in all
- Last flight review: November 13, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,749 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 12, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1L1 Panaca NV at 1:30 am
- Destination: EVW Evanston WY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 7,301 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; scat at 200 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from EVW, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.