Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Vernal, Utah, August 13, 1983
On August 13, 1983 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N29649, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vernal, Utah (Vernal airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- August 13, 1983 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vernal, Utah · Vernal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N29649 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7931207
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB, AS THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED, THE TURBO CHARGER OVERBOOST LIGHT FLASHED ONCE & THE ENG COUGHED & QUIT. THE PLT STATED ALL GAGES WERE NORMAL UNTIL THE ENG QUIT. THE ACFT WAS STILL OVER THE RWY, & THE PLT MAINTAINED 75 KTS WITH 1 NOTCH OF FLAPS. THE ACFT LANDED GEAR UP ABOUT 75 FT OFF THE END OF THE PAVED RWY. NO MALFUNCTION OF THE ENG OR TURBOCHARGER UNIT WAS FOUND. THE PLT STATED THE ACFT HAD BEEN TIED DOWN FOUR DAYS DURING WHICHTHERE HAD BEEN NIGHTLY THUNDERSHOWERS. HOWEVER, NO WATER WAS PRESENT WHEN THE PLT DRAINED THE TANKS DURING PREFLIGHT.
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: 537 hours in all; 290 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,103 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1983; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 6,605 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.