Piper 18 accident near Labarge, Wyoming, July 21, 1982
On July 21, 1982 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Piper 18, registered N83503, was destroyed in an accident near Labarge, Wyoming. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- July 21, 1982 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Labarge, Wyoming
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper 18
- Registration
- N83503 · no longer on the register · serial 187709052
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A POWER LINE PATROL MISSION. THE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT WAS ACTING AS AN OBSERVER. HE WAS ALSO ALONG TO ASSIST THE COMPANY IN ROUTE FAMILIARIZATION OF THE PILOT, BUT WAS ASSIGNED NO OTHER OFFICIAL CREWMEMBER DUTIES. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE AIRCREW WERE PATROLLING THE LINE TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST WITH A HEAD WIND. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE ON THE LEEWARD SIDE OF STEEPLY RISING TERRAIN. THE WRECKAGE WAS CONFINED WITHIN A RADIUS OF 30 FT WITH EXCEPTION OF A FUEL CAP AND RED NAVIGATION LIGHT THAT WERE SLIGHTLY FARTHER AWAY. NO PREIMPACT FAILURES WERE FOUND AND FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 7000 FT MSL AND THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 10,000 FT.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,733 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Exec. Air Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Pinedale WY at 4:15 pm
- Destination: Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 192°F (89°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.