Piper PA-31T-620II accident near Cody, Wyoming, May 20, 1987
On May 20, 1987 at about 11:22 pm local time, a Piper PA-31T-620II, registered N2336X, was destroyed in an accident near Cody, Wyoming (E.E. Faust Regional airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 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
- May 20, 1987 · about 11:22 pm local time
- Place
- Cody, Wyoming · E.E. Faust Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31T-620II PA-31T-620 · all PA-31T-620IIs on the register
- Registration
- N2336X · no longer on the register · serial 31T8120002
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
N2336X WAS ON A BUSINESS FLT TO CODY, WY. THE PILOT EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT OF THE VOR-A APPROACH. A PILOT WHO LANDED AT CODY MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT SAID THE VISIBILITY HAD DECREASED TO 3/4 OF A MI WHEN N2336X MADE THE FIRST APPROACH AND APPROX 1/2 MI WHEN N2336X CRASHED. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. THE SAS SERVO ARM WAS FOUND IN THE FULL UP POSITION. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TERRAIN IN A STEEP NOSE LOW ATTITUDE ON A HEADING THAT WAS OPPOSITE TO THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT. APP MINS AT CODY ARE 5800 FT & 1 MILE VIS.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 9,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W PT6A-28 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: IDA Idaho Fals ID at 10:18 pm
- Destination: COD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22, 8,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from COD
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.