Piper PA-28-161 accident near Alpine, Wyoming, July 15, 1989
On July 15, 1989 at about 4:15 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N21170, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alpine, Wyoming (Alpine airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S DECISION TO LAND AT AN UNLIGHTED AIRPORT AT NIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED LONG AND OVERRAN THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1989 · about 4:15 am local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Alpine, Wyoming · Alpine · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N21170 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7916029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS LANDING ON AN UNLIGHTED, 5700 X 50 FT, ASPHALT RWY AT NIGHT. THE ACFT OVERRAN THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH WHICH BROKE OFF THE LT MAIN GEAR AND DAMAGED THE WING. THE AIRPORT DIRECTORIES SHOW THE AIRPORT IS CLOSED AT NIGHT. THE ACDT OCCURRED AT 2215 AND THE SUN HAD SET AT ABOUT 2105.
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: 108 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 1989; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Air Academy
The flight
- Departed from: AFO Afton WY at 3:30 am
- Destination: 46U
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.
Other NTSB records under N21170 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N21170: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,639 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,848 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G 134 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Alpine Airport · nearest airport
- Afton Lincoln County/General Boyd L Eddins Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Wyoming 778 since 1982 · 109 in the last ten years
- Wyoming 3,236 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N21170 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN89LA171.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.