Piper PA-32R-300 accident near St. George, Utah, March 24, 2022
On March 24, 2022 at about 7:49 pm local time, a 1976 Piper PA-32R-300, registered N111NW, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near St. George, Utah (St George Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 2022 · about 7:49 pm local time
- Place
- St. George, Utah · St George Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300, built 1976 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N111NW · registry record · serial 32R7680499
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane sustained a total loss of engine power during the approach to land. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot initiated a forced landing to rough desert terrain. During the landing roll, the landing gear collapsed and separated, and the airplane slid about 100 ft before coming to rest upright. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact malfunctions or anomalies. Residual fuel was found in fuel lines and fuel components in the airframe and engine. The reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 149 hours in all; 106 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 7, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,563 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 204 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPR Casper WY at 4:30 pm
- Destination: SGU St. George UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 19, 9,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KSGU, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSGU 241956Z AUTO 21004KT 10SM CLR 21/M11 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP188 T02111106 PNO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
13 documents, released by the NTSB on March 20, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Photo Array-first Responders (Courtesy of Washington City Police Department) | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Field Notes-accident Site | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Faa-record of Conversation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Sgu Control Tower Recording | audio | View Download |
| 6 | Email-fuel Quantities During Recovery Efforts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | CGR-30P Flight Data-raw Csv | data file | Download |
| 8 | CGR-30C Flight Data Raw Csv | data file | Download |
| 9 | Accident Flight Data Graphs (Nvm) | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 10 | NTSB Wreckage Examination Summary | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation-lycoming | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 12 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation-piper | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 13 | Googleearth Image of the Accident Site | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR22LA127.