Piper PA-28-140 accident near Rawlins, Wyoming, April 26, 1997
On April 26, 1997 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N6121J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rawlins, Wyoming (Rawlins Municipal Airport). 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 inadequate preflight planning. Factors include high density altitude, downdrafts, and rough/uneven terrain in the area where the pilot attempted the emergency landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 1997 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Rawlins, Wyoming · Rawlins Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N6121J · no longer on the register · serial 28-7625220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted a takeoff in high density altitude conditions, and encountered downdrafts during the initial climb. Because it became apparent that the aircraft would not outclimb the terrain, the pilot elected to make an emergency landing on the rough/uneven ground. Upon touchdown, both main gear were torn from the wings. The pilot later stated that, although he had checked the weight and balance, he had not calculated the expected rate of climb under the conditions. The expected rate of climb was later determined to be approximately 250 feet per minute. The aircraft came to rest about one mile from the end of the runway, on terrain that was about 150 to 200 feet higher than the runway surface.
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: 335 hours in all; 317 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 335 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,428 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1996; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RWL WY at 9:55 pm
- Destination: V40 Rangely CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°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.