Piper PA-28-140 accident near Moab, UT
On October 2, 2023, a Piper PA-28-140 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Moab, UT. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- October 2, 2023
- Place
- Moab, UT
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.752°N, 109.770°W
- NTSB ID
- 20231002193168
Official records · WPR24FA002
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 1, 2023, about 2024 mountain daylight time, A Piper PA-28-140, N7153R, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Moab, Utah. The pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. An airport security video recorded the airplane landing at 1747 at the Canyonlands Regional Airport (CNY), Moab, Utah. According to a fixed-base-operator employee, the pilot purchased 27 gallons of fuel, parked the airplane near the fuel island, and departed the airport with his family. The occupants returned later in the evening and boarded the airplane. At 2022:47, ADS-B data showed the airplane on runway 21. The security video showed that the pilot-controlled runway lights were not illuminated at that time. At 2023:39, ADS-B data showed the airplane was about mid-runway when it departed the runway surface. At 2024:18, ADS-B data showed the airplane had drifted left of the runway centerline and had begun a right turn, about 400 ft beyond the departure end of the runway at an altitude of about 4,500 ft mean sea level (msl). A witness, located near the departure end of runway 21, reported that he saw the airplane take off to the southwest. He stated that the runway lights were not on and that the engine was loud and smooth. The witness further saw “the light in the nose turn off,” and stated that the airplane wasn’t very high when it turned steeply to the right and stayed in the steep bank until it was parallel with the runway but in the opposite direction
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of visual reference to the horizon while departing during dark night, which resulted in the pilot experiencing spatial disorientation and subsequent controlled flight into terrain.
More accidents in UT
- Beech A100, Aug 22, 2008
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Browse: Utah · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
