Piper PA-28-235 accident near Buffalo, Wyoming, October 19, 1998
On October 19, 1998, a Piper PA-28-235, registered N8537N, was destroyed in an accident near Buffalo, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-instrument rated pilot's initiated flight into adverse weather conditions and inadvertently flew into IMC weather conditions. Factors were the low ceiling weather conditions, the dark night light conditions, and a non operating VOR navigational aid.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 1998
- Place
- Buffalo, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8537N · registry record · serial 28-11336
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrument rated pilot departed on a VFR flight plan direct to his destination (altitude of 6,500 feet msl). Approximately 25 minutes after departure, he diverted south and then west. Approximately 90 minutes after takeoff, the pilot radioed Flight Watch to request a weather update. At that time, he said that 'it was getting a little soupy out here.' Sunset was at 1847. The weather conditions en route, at 1836, were deteriorating, with cloud ceilings lowered to 1,500 feet agl and scattered clouds at 800 feet agl. The VOR, near the accident site, was inoperable due to electrical power failure. The pilot radioed Flight Watch at 1845, and requested help to identify his location. The airplane impacted the mountain at approximately 1850 at approximately 7,000 feet msl. The accident site was approximately 100 nm south of his flight plan route.
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: 791 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,212 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 4, 1998; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MBG Mobridge SD at 10:30 pm
- Destination: BIL Billings MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; ovct at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN99FA012.