Piper PA-32-260 accident near Riverton, Wyoming, March 3, 1993
On March 3, 1993 at about 5:35 am local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N821SC, was destroyed in an accident near Riverton, Wyoming (Riverton Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT DID NOT PERFORM AN ABORT OF THE TAKEOFF AFTER OBSERVING A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER. FACTORS INCLUDE IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 1993 · about 5:35 am local time
- Place
- Riverton, Wyoming · Riverton Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N821SC · registry record · serial 32558
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OBSERVED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT PRODUCING EXPECTED POWER, AND ASSURED DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN THAT THE PROPELLER, THROTTLE, AND MIXTURE CONTROLS WERE FULL FORWARD. THE TAKEOFF USED ABOUT HALF THE LENGTH OF THE 8202 FOOT RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF, CLIMBED TO ABOUT 50 FEET AND WOULD NOT CLIMB. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A LIGHT POLE AND CRASHED IN A FIELD ABOUT 1.5 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE HAD EXPECTED TO TAKEOFF GROUND RUN TO BE ABOUT 2000 FEET, HE FAILED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 810 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 632 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,260 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1992; 160 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: RIW at 5:34 am
- Destination: P1R Pierre SD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28, 8,202 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 am from RIW, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.