Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming, July 8, 1988
On July 8, 1988 at about 11:48 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N4329F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming (Cheyenne airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- July 8, 1988 · about 11:48 pm local time
- Place
- Cheyenne, Wyoming · Cheyenne · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N4329F · registry record · serial 28R 7635401
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED IN OMAHA, NE. THREE PASSENGERS AND THE COMMERCIAL PLT EMBARKED ON A FISHING TRIP INTO WYOMING. THE PILOT DEPARTED CHEYENNE AFTER HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND CORRECTING THE PROBLEM BY PROPER LEANING. HE SAID HE TOOK OFF WITH THE ACFT JUST UNDER GROSS WT WITH A 20 KNOT CROSSWIND AND RELATIVELY HIGH DA. THE PILOT SAID THE ACFT DID NOT RESPOND AS ANTICIPATED AND THAT THE STALL WARNING HORN WAS SOUNDING INTERMITTENTLY. THE ACFT STRUCK SOME TREES BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS OVER 8000 FT AND THE GROSS WEIGHT WAS WITHIN 1 PERCENT OF MAX GROSS WEIGHT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 363 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 182 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,075 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 28, 1987; 208 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bell Flyers INC
The flight
- Departed from: CYS Cheyenne WY at 11:47 pm
- Destination: SAA Saratoga WY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 26, 9,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 20 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from CYS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.
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.