Piper PA-32-301T accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming, November 7, 1986
On November 7, 1986 at about 1:42 am local time, a Piper PA-32-301T, registered N8216V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming (Cheyenne airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- November 7, 1986 · about 1:42 am local time
- Place
- Cheyenne, Wyoming · Cheyenne · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301T · all PA-32-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8216V · no longer on the register · serial 32-8224010
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT AND HIS TWO PAX WERE ON A VFR X-COUNTRY TO SCOTTSBLUFF, NE, WHEN IMC WAS ENCOUNTERED NEAR GRAND JUNCTION, CO. THE PLT THEN CALLED ATC AND OBTAINED AN IFR CLEARANCE. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND AT CHEYENNE, WY. WX WAS REPORTED TO BE 500 OVERCAST, 1/4 MI VISIBILITY, 1 MI TOWER VISIBILITY, LIGHT RAIN, LIGHT SNOW, FOG. DURING LETDOWN TO THE IAF THE ACFT ACCUMULATED HEAVY ICE AND THE PLT REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE FAF. A/C DENIED REQUEST BECAUSE RADAR WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT CHEYENNE. WITH FULL PWR ACFT DESCENDED BELOW THE GLIDESLOPE. THE PLT SAID THE ACFT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO CLIMB AND HE EXECUTED A MISSED APCH. THE ACFT THEN BEGAN TO STALL AND LOSE ALT. THE PLT MADE AN EMERG OFF-ARPT FORCED LANDING.
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: 597 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 152 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 490 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 732 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1986; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OZN St. George UT
- Destination: BFF Scottsbluff NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 9,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from CYS, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.