Piper PA-32 accident near Rock Springs, Wyoming, February 2, 1982
On February 2, 1982 at about 1:45 am local time, a Piper PA-32, registered N8178F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rock Springs, Wyoming. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1982 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Rock Springs, Wyoming
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32 · all PA-32s on the register
- Registration
- N8178F · no longer on the register · serial 32-8024016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED VERNAL,UT AT 1810 MST AFTER REFUELING. DURING THE VFR FLIGHT THE PILOT REPORTED TO ROCK SPRINGS FSS THAT HE WAS 20 MILES SOUTH AND WAS GIVEN CURRENT WEATHER AND RUNWAY IN USE. NO OTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A MOUNTAIN RIDGE AT APPROXIMATELY 8700 FT MSL. TO DATE THE PILOT DOES NOT RECALL ANY EVENTS OF THE FLIGHT NOR ANY DETAILS OF THE CRASH. THE PILOT WAS CERTIFICATED FOR PART 135 OPERATIONS IN LATE DECEMBER 1981 AND HAD FLOWN THE ROUTE ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,275 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 198 in the last 90 days; 1,145 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 957 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-51AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Alpine Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Vernal UT at 6:10 pm
- Destination: Terry MS
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from RKS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.