Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, November 30, 1990
On November 30, 1990 at about 7:46 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N4678J, was destroyed in an accident near Salt Lake City, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL BUZZING OF UNINHABITED ISLAND IN THE GREAT SALT LAKE AND HIS MISJUDGING THE TIMING OF A PULL-UP MANEUVER TO CLEAR RISING TERRAIN OF A RIDGELINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 30, 1990 · about 7:46 pm local time
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4678J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-30578
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DESCENDED TO A LOW ALTITUDE BEFORE REACHING AN UNINHABITED ISLAND IN THE GREAT SALT LAKE AND ATTEMPTED A PULL-UP MANEUVER TO FLY OVER A RIDGELINE ON THE ISLAND. THE LEFT WING TIP IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN NEAR THE TOP OF THE RIDGELINE. THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELED OVER THE RIDGELINE, TRAVELED 750 FT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.
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: 208 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 118 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,156 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 7, 1990; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Hill Afb Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: END Wendover UT at 7:17 pm
- Destination: HIF Hill Afb UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from SLC, 28 miles away
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.
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.