Piper PA-24 accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming, February 10, 1994
On February 10, 1994 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-24, registered N5639P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cheyenne, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 1994 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Cheyenne, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24 · all PA-24s on the register
- Registration
- N5639P · registry record · serial 24-709
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PILOT DIVERTED COURSE TO AVOID SNOW SHOWERS. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO STAY CLEAR OF THE SHOWERS AT HIS PRESENT ALTITUDE AND OPTED TO DESCEND. DURING THE DESCENT, THE PILOT APPLIED CARB HEAT AFTER HE NOTICED A DROP IN THE EGT. THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN FULL POWER AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED. THE CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART INDICATES ICING AT GLIDE AND CRUISE POWER.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,604 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 16,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,289 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 23, 1993; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COD Cody WY at 8:55 pm
- Destination: COS Colorado Spring CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from WOF, 24 miles away
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.