Piper PA-28R-201T accident near Monticello, Utah, October 20, 1991
On October 20, 1991 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, registered N1087H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monticello, Utah (Monticello airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE/OVERHAUL OF THE ENGINE, AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE #5 PISTON (HOLE BURNED IN PISTON), DUE TO PRE-IGNITION AND/OR DETONATION. ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1991 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Monticello, Utah · Monticello · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201T PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N1087H · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7703013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, ABOUT 5 MIN AFTER PASSING THE MONTICELLO AIRPORT, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. THE PILOT REVERSED COURSE TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. AS HE WAS TURNING ONTO BASE LEG, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING ABOUT 50 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. AN EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE CRANKCASE, A HOLE WAS BURNED IN THE #5 PISTON FROM PRE-IGNITION/DETONATION, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF ARCING OF THE LEFT MAG AND CONTAMINATION IN THE RIGHT MAG, AND THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED. THE ACFT HAD 88 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME, SINCE A MAJOR OVERHAUL OF THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETED ON 7/12/91.
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: 1,179 hours in all; 166 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,030 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 1991; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BDG Blanding UT at 5:36 pm
- Destination: RKS Rock Springs WY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 4,817 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from GJT, 80 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.