Piper PA-38 accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming, August 19, 1984
On August 19, 1984 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-38, registered N43DR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming (Cheyenne Municipal airport). It was an instructional 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 19, 1984 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Cheyenne, Wyoming · Cheyenne Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38 · all PA-38s on the register
- Registration
- N43DR · registry record · serial 38-82A0016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING AN UNEVENTFUL SOLO FLIGHT THE STUDENT PLT BEGAN TO FOLLOW A PARKING VEHICLE TO A PARKING SPOT. THE SPOT THAT THE PARKING VEHICLE DRIVER SELECTED NECESSITATED THAT THE ACFT EXECUTE A 180 DEG TURN JUST PRIOP TO STOPPING. DURING THIS TURN THE RIGHT WING OF THE ACFT STRUCK A CONSTRUCTION FENCE POST ADJACENT TO THE PARKING SPOT EVEN THOUGH THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS EXACTLY CENTERED ON THE YELLOW TAXIWAY STRIPE. DURING THE ACCIDENT THE LINEMAN MADE NO INDICATION THAT THE WINGTIP WAS GETTING CLOSE TO THE FENCE. ACCORDING TO MEASUREMENTS TAKEN AFTER THE ACCIDENT, IF THE NOSEWHEEL TRACKED EXACTLY ON THE YELLOW CENTERLINE THE RIGHT WINGTIP WOULD HAVE CLEARED THE FENCE POST BY 6 INCHES. ANOTHER LINEMAN NOT INVOLVED IN THIS MISHAP STATED THAT 'HE WAS WONDERING WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE FROM THE FENCE TO THE TAXIWAY STRIP FOR AN AIRCRAFT TO GET BY.' HE MADE THIS STATEMENT AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 81 hours in all; 19 in the last 90 days; 31 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 773 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 19, 1984; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N43DR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.