Piper PA-30 accident near Afton, Wyoming, May 25, 1993
On May 25, 1993 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N7569Y, was destroyed in an accident near Afton, Wyoming (Afton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON(S).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1993 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Afton, Wyoming · Afton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N7569Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-634
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE RIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER. HE IDENTIFIED THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS NOT PRODUCING POWER, AND USED LEFT RUDDER CONTROL AND A LEFT BANKING TURN TO MAINTAIN A COURSE AWAY FROM TREES. THE AIRSPEED WAS DECREASING, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. HE DID NOT FEATHER THE RIGHT PROPELLER. WITH BOTH THROTTLES STILL FULL FORWARD, HE FEATHERED THE LEFT PROPELLER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A SMALL METAL SHED. ENGINE TEARDOWN INSPECTION DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APRX 8,500 FT. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, UNDER THE EXISTING CONDITIONS THE AIRPLANE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN AN APRX 25 FPM CLIMB WITH THE INOPERATIVE ENGINE FEATHERED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,328 hours in all; 227 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,139 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,353 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 23, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 3,725 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AFO at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 4,680 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots, gusting 11
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.