On October 29, 1998, a Piper PA28-181 (registration N3034B) was involved in an aviation accident near Tooele, UT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's VFR flight into IMC and his failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance. Contributng factors were fog, low ceilings, high terrain, the pilot's lack of familiarity with the geographic environment and his misinterpretation of terrain features on… This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
While on a VFR cross-country flight, the pilot encountered rapidly forming fog, misjudged terrain elevation, and flew into the ground at 6,200 feet msl.
Incident Details
During a cross-country flight conducted under visual flight rules (VFR), the pilot encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) while attempting to remain below the cloud layer approximately 10 miles short of the intended destination. The pilot subsequently flew into terrain while in cruise flight at an elevation of 6,200 feet above mean sea level.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that he misjudged the rapidly forming fog conditions and misinterpreted his map regarding the surrounding terrain elevation. He stated that he did not anticipate the terrain to be as high as it was in the area where the accident occurred. The pilot also noted that this was his first experience flying in mountainous terrain and acknowledged that he should have turned back when the weather conditions began to deteriorate.
What happened in the 29 Oct 1998 Piper PA28-181 accident near Tooele, UT?
While on a VFR cross-country flight, the pilot encountered rapidly forming fog, misjudged terrain elevation, and flew into the ground at 6,200 feet msl.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 29 Oct 1998 involved a Piper PA28-181, registration N3034B, at Tooele, UT.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's VFR flight into IMC and his failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance. Contributng factors were fog, low ceilings, high terrain, the pilot's lack of familiarity with the geographic environment and his misinterpretation of terrain features on the aeronautical chart.
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