Piper PA-38 accident near Fruitland, Utah, May 27, 1997
On May 27, 1997 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-38, registered N2362K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fruitland, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain. Factors include his improper inflight decision to attempt to fly through a mountain pass under high density altitude conditions in an aircraft that was operating near the limits of its performance capability, high density altitude, downdrafts, and mountainous terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1997 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fruitland, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38 · all PA-38s on the register
- Registration
- N2362K · no longer on the register · serial PA-38-112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the return leg of a cross-country flight through mountainous terrain, the pilot attempted to fly through a mountain pass which was more than 8,500 feet high. At the time of the accident, the density altitude in the area was greater than 10,000 feet, and according to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the aircraft's expected climb rate would be less than 100 feet per minute. While attempting to get through the pass, the aircraft encountered downdrafts that were sinking at a greater rate than the aircraft could climb. Although the pilot attempted to outclimb the sinking air, he could not keep the aircraft from descending into the terrain.
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: 50 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 7, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235L-2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U69 Duchesne UT at 10:50 pm
- Destination: OGD Ogden UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.