| Crash location | 40.606667°N, 111.998611°W |
| Nearest city | West Jordan, UT
40.609670°N, 111.939103°W 3.1 miles away |
| Tail number | N33732 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 11 Aug 2017 |
| Aircraft type | Piper Pa 28R-200 |
| Additional details: | None |
On August 11, 2017, about 1755 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA28-200R, N33732, was substantially damaged following a forced landing near West Jordan, Utah. The private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries, while two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned cross-country flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed and activated. The flight departed the South Valley Regional Airport (U42), West Jordan, Utah, about 1745, with the destination reported as Casper/Natroma County International Airport (CPR), Casper, Wyoming.
In a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the passenger, who was seated in the right-front cockpit seat, reported that shortly after takeoff and about 1 mile southwest of the airport, the airplane encountered a wind gust, the airplane lost lift, and the pilot commented that "they might be in trouble." The passenger stated that the pilot made a right-hand turn back toward the airport, but when he realized he could not make the airport he elected to land in an open field, during which the airplane's left wing spar was substantially damaged.
In a telephone interview the day following the accident, the pilot confirmed what the passenger had reported to the IIC was an accurate account of the accident sequence. When asked by the IIC if his preflight planning had included a weight and balance calculation and a density altitude calculation, the pilot reported that he had completed both prior to departing. Additionally, the pilot opined that he thought the airplane was a few hundred pounds under its gross takeoff weight. The pilot concluded that he did not detect any anomalies with the engine during the takeoff or during the accident sequence.
At 1755, the U42 automated weather reporting facility indicated wind 120° at 6 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 32° C, dew point 12° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.03 inches of mercury.
The airplane was recovered for further examination.