Piper PA-34 Landing Accident at Ralph Wenz Field

Casualties unknown • Pinedale, WY, US

A Piper PA-34 sustained substantial damage after landing off the runway at Ralph Wenz Field in Wyoming due to poor runway visibility caused by snow.

What happened

On January 25, 1991, a Piper PA-34, registration N8372Z, was involved in an accident during the landing phase of flight at Ralph Wenz Field in Pinedale, Wyoming. The aircraft was operating on a flight originating from Big Piney, Wyoming, with a destination of Pinedale.

The pilot reported that an aircraft preceding his had performed a go-around because the pilot could not clearly identify the runway due to snow cover. Following this, the pilot of N8372Z aligned the aircraft parallel to the runway, approximately 80 feet to the left of the paved surface. The aircraft subsequently landed off the runway, adjacent to a snow bank.

The impact resulted in the collapse of the landing gear, and both the fuselage and the stabilator sustained structural damage. There were no injuries reported following the incident.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1991-01-25 Piper PA-34 accident near Pinedale, WY?

A Piper PA-34 sustained substantial damage after landing off the runway at Ralph Wenz Field in Wyoming due to poor runway visibility caused by snow.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1991-01-25 involved a Piper PA-34, registration N8372Z, operated by Department OF Interior, at Pinedale, WY.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to attain proper runway alignment during landing. A contributing factor was a snow covered runway.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X16387. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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