Piper PA-23-150 accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, September 27, 1993
On September 27, 1993 at about 6:30 am local time, a Piper PA-23-150, registered N200X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salt Lake City, Utah (Salt Lake City Inter. airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS INCLUDE A FENCE, AN ANIMAL, AND A DITCH IN THE LANDING ROLL PATH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1993 · about 6:30 am local time
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · Salt Lake City Inter. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-150 · all PA-23-150s on the register
- Registration
- N200X · registry record · serial 23-931
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT ENGINE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT POWER LOSS. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, ESTABLISHED A DESCENT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, AND IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM ENGINE. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS PULLED TO IDLE, THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO ATTEMPT A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS SUCCESSFUL, BUT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A COW, A FENCE, AND THEN A DITCH. THE POST-CRASH INVESTIGATION AND ENGINE INSPECTION WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE A REASON FOR THE POWER SURGE/LOSS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,410 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 1,240 as pilot in command; 750 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PVU Provo UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 12,003 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 am from SLC, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.