Piper PA-28-181 accident near Price, Utah, March 26, 1990
On March 26, 1990 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N4540X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Price, Utah (Carbon CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE CONPENSATION FOR THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS, WHICH WERE A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 1990 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Price, Utah · Carbon CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N4540X · no longer on the register · serial 28-7690032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS MAKING A LANDING TO RUNWAY 18, WITH WINDS FROM 190 DEGREES AT 5, GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS. SHE SAID THAT AT FLARE FOR TOUCHDOWN, A STRONG WIND GUST STRUCK THE PLANE FROM THE RIGHT AND PUSHED IT LEFT. SHE ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND BUT LOST CONTROL. THE PLANE STRUCK THE BRUSH COVERED TERRAIN LEFT OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR, RIGHT MAIN GEAR, BENT THE FUSELAGE, FIREWALL AND RIGHT WING. THE PLANE CAME TO REST 25 YARDS LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. THE WEATHER REPORTING STATION CONFIRMED THE WIND WAS GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: student
- Flight time: 64 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 17 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Strand Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GJC Grand Junction CO at 6:45 pm
- Destination: PUC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 7,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.