Piper PA-22-135 accident near Dixon, Wyoming, February 3, 1984
On February 3, 1984 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-135, registered N3553A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dixon, Wyoming (Dixon airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- February 3, 1984 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Dixon, Wyoming · Dixon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-135 · all PA-22-135s on the register
- Registration
- N3553A · no longer on the register · serial 22-1827
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT BEGAN TO WANDER BACK & FORTH ACROSS THE RWY ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL AS THE ACFT VEERED TO THELEFT. THE LEFT WHEEL HIT A SNOWBANK & THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE RIGHT WING BEFORE COMING TO REST. THERE WAS A 10 DEGREE LEFT X-WIND. THE INSTRUCTOR WAS INEXPERIENCED AS AN INSTRUCTOR & HAD LOGGED 26 HRSOF FLIGHT TIME IN A PA22. THE ACFT HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY THE REMOVAL OF A NOSE WHEEL & THE INSTALLATION OF A TAILWHEEL BUT A NEW TYPE CERTIFICATE HAD NOT BEEN ISSUED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,313 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 256 in the last 90 days; 1,313 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,005 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9U4 Dixon WY at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 4,800 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from RWL, 55 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.