Piper PA-28-180 accident near Powell, Wyoming, October 3, 1992
On October 3, 1992, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N32889, was destroyed in an accident near Powell, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ASSURE CLEARANCE FROM THE RADIO TOWER. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE MARKED TOWER AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 1992
- Place
- Powell, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N32889 · registry record · serial 28-7505101
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT IN COMMAND ADVISED ACQUAINTANCES THAT HE INTENDED TO FLY OVER THEIR RESIDENCE ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE AIRCRAFT FLYING LOW AND IN A LEFT TURN JUST BEFORE IT CRASHED. WRECKAGE DISTRIBUTION WAS ORIENTED ALONG A 180 DEGREE BEARING LINE 635 TO 650 FEET SOUTH OF A 210 FOOT HIGH, MARKED RADIO TOWER WITHIN A MILE OF THE ACQUAINTANCES' RESIDENCE. IMPACT DAMAGE ON THE TOWER AND AIRCRAFT ESTABLISHED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING LEADING EDGE COLLIDED WITH THE TOWER AT A POINT 20 FEET BELOW THE TOP OF THE TOWER. THE OUTBOARD SECTION OF LEFT WING SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS FOUND APPROXIMATELY 113 FEET SOUTH SOUTHWEST OF THE TOWER BASE.
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: 212 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,182 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1992; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GEY Greybull WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.