Piper PA-28-180 accident near Dutch John, Utah, August 30, 1989
On August 30, 1989 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7111W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dutch John, Utah (Dutch John airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE (VARIABLE/GUSTY) WIND CONDITION, AND THE HIGH VEGETATION AND TREE BESIDE THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 1989 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Dutch John, Utah · Dutch John · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7111W · registry record · serial 28-902
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT HE & A FRIEND WERE TAKING OFF ON A SOFT, DIRT RWY WITH AN ESTIMATED 23 KNOT HEADWIND. HE SAID THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN, THE PLANE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND THAT HE ESTIMATED AS 50 KTS. THE PLANE TURNED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT WITH RIGHT RUDDER. HE SAID HE PULLED THE NOSE OFF THE GROUND AS THE PLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT. THE PLANE FLEW OVER SAGE BRUSH BESIDE THE RUNWAY, BUT THE LEFT WING STRUCK A 10 FT HIGH CEDAR TREE ABOUT 8 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PLANE THEN HIT THE GROUND & NOSED OVER.
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: 116 hours in all; 116 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 85 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 33U at 6:15 pm
- Destination: 36U Heber UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 23 knots, gusting 50
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N7111W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.