Piper PA-28-181 accident near Monticello, Utah, August 8, 2008
On August 8, 2008 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N2190X, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Monticello, Utah (Monticello Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2008 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Monticello, Utah · Monticello Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2190X · no longer on the register · serial 28-7990367
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was maneuvering the airplane at a low altitude over a sparsely populated area with the intention of looking for wildlife. Several witnesses located near the accident site reported observing the accident airplane flying around the vicinity of the accident site at a low altitude. One witness reported that he observed an airplane circling in the vicinity of the accident site with the wings "completely up and down" followed by the airplane leveling off at an "extremely low altitude" before he lost sight of the airplane below the horizon. Wreckage and impact signatures were consistent with the airplane impacting terrain within an open plowed field in a right wing low attitude. The wreckage debris path was about 190 feet. All major components of the airplane were located within the debris path. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 356 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,158.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2008; 31.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,549 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KBDG Blanding UT at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Observation at 11:55 am from K4BL, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.