Piper PA28 accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, January 15, 2019
On January 15, 2019 at about 5:50 pm local time, a 1968 Piper PA28, registered N1697J, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Salt Lake City, Utah (South Valley Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to the mechanic’s failure to properly secure the throttle lever locking nut and cotter pin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 2019 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · South Valley Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 140, built 1968 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N1697J · no longer on the register · serial 28-24103
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings when the engine became unresponsive to throttle inputs. He performed a forced landing onto a highway, during which the airplane was substantially damaged. Examination of the engine revealed that the carburetor throttle lever lock nut was finger-tight, and its cotter pin was absent, which likely resulted in the throttle lever intermittently disengaging from the serrated throttle shaft when the pilot manipulated the throttle. A review of the maintenance log books and an interview with the mechanic revealed that the throttle cable had been removed and subsequently reinstalled onto the carburetor as part of the most recent annual inspection, which was completed about 1 month before the accident. It is likely that, at this time, the mechanic did not install or inadequately installed the cotter pin through the locking nut and bolt.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Fasteners › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,859 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 158 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 3,753 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,661.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 1,313 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U42 Salt Lake City UT at 4:00 pm
- Destination: U42 Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,808 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; scat at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from KSLC, 115 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.