Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Pintura, Utah, April 16, 1988
On April 16, 1988 at about 7:53 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N2738R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pintura, Utah. It was a personal 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
- April 16, 1988 · about 7:53 pm local time
- Place
- Pintura, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N2738R · no longer on the register · serial PA-28R-35278
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT AND TWO PAX DEPARTED OVERTON, NV DESTINED FOR SUNDANCE, WY. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT TOOK OFF UNDER AN OVERCAST AND FOLLOWED INTERSTATE 15 NORTHBOUND. A WITNESS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE SAID THAT HE SAW N2738R AT APRX 600 FT AGL OVER THE INTERSTATE. HE SAW THE ACFT FLY INTO 'A HEAVY CLOUD BANK.' THE MOUNTAINS WERE REPORTEDLY OBSCURED BY LOW CLOUDS AND RAIN SHOWERS. THE MOUNTAIN PEAK ELEVATION WAS 8700 FT. N2738R CRASHED AT THE 5700 FT LEVEL.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,329 hours in all; 1,049 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 1,277 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,950 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 1987; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U08 Overton NV at 7:30 pm
- Destination: SUC Sundance WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.