Piper PA-24-260 accident near Woods Cross, Utah, July 9, 1992
On July 9, 1992 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-260, registered N9323P, was destroyed in an accident near Woods Cross, Utah (Skypark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT FACTOR IN THAT HE FAILED TO ATTAIN AND MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT FLYING SPEED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CYLINDER OVER TEMPERATURE, IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE AND PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES WERE NOT FOLLOWED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1992 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Woods Cross, Utah · Skypark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N9323P · no longer on the register · serial 24-4820
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKE OFF GROUND RUN, WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ENG SOUNDED NORMAL, HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE REMAINED ON THE RWY FOR AN UNUSUAL LENGTH OF TIME. WHEN THE AIRPLANE FINALLY LIFTED OFF NEAR THE END OF THE RWY, THE ANGLE OF ATTACK INCREASED ABOVE NORMAL. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO CLIMB IN THIS ATTITUDE, WITH THE WINGS WAGGING UP AND DOWN. THE AIRPLANE ATTAINED AN ALT OF APPROX 100 200 FT WHEN THE RT WING AND NOSE DROPPED TOWARD THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND APPROX ONE HALF MILE NORTH OF THE ARPT IN A NOSE DOWN, RT WING LOW ATTITUDE. A POST CRASH FIRE IGNITED AND CONSUMED THE AIRPLANE. DURING A POST CRASH ENG TEARDOWN, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE NUMBER SIX CYLINDER COULD NOT HOLD COMPRESSION. FURTHER TEARDOWN REVEALED A SECTION OF THE CYLINDER AROUND THE EXHAUST SEAL WAS MISSING. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE DAMAGE MOST LIKELY OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF EXTREMELY LEAN OPERATIONS WHICH LEAD TO DETONATION. THE PLT HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE, WHICH WAS EQUIPPED WITH A TURBO CHARGER, AND WAS TAUGHT TO LEAN THE MIXTURE FOR TAKE OFF. THE OPERATORS MANUAL STATES FOR TAKE OFF TO HAVE THE MIXTURE FULL RICH.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 15 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,128 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1992; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-R1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: GCN Grand Canyon AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 4,700 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from SLC, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.