Piper PA-34-200T accident near Ogden, Utah, September 2, 1985
On September 2, 1985 at about 6:56 pm local time, a Piper PA-34-200T, registered N75015, was destroyed in an accident near Ogden, Utah (Ogden Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. 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
- September 2, 1985 · about 6:56 pm local time
- Place
- Ogden, Utah · Ogden Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N75015 · no longer on the register · serial 76-70217
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT AND HIS PARTY WERE EN ROUTE FROM MINDEN, NV TO CASPER, WY AND HAD STOPPED AT OGDEN, UT TO REFUEL. THE PLT OBTAINED AN UPDATED WX BRIEFING FR FSS AND FIELD AN IFR FLT PLAN. AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT WAS TOLD TO CLIMB IN THE HOLDING PATTERN TO 13000 FT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE PLT WAS INSTRUCTED TO JOIN V-6 AND RESUME HIS OWN NAVIGATION. THE PLT REPLIED HE WAS IN A SPIRAL. WITNESSES SAW THE ACFT DESCENDING IN A NEAR-VERTICAL ATTITUDE AND SAID A THUNDERSTORM HAD JUST PAST OVERHEAD WITH HEAVY RAIN. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A FLAT ATTITUDE. ONE OF THE PLT'S FORMER CFI AND A FAA DESIGNATED EXAMINER SAID THE PLT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENT RATED. THE EXAMINER RESTRICTED THE PLT'S MULTIENGINE RATING TO 'VFR ONLY.' THE RESTRICTION WAS REMOVED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY A FAA INSPECTOR.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 427 hours in all; 193 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 282 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,086 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 1985; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,950 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OGD Ogden UT at 6:41 pm
- Destination: CPR Casper WY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 3, 8,250 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.