19960131047539A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-34-220T · Estespark, CO · January 31, 1996

Date: January 31, 1996 · 21:55 local
Place: Estespark, CO
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N83809
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW96FA145
Reported as: Piper PA34220T
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1

N83809Registration cancelled Nov 2, 1998 · Piper PA-34-220TS/N 348133085 Airframe modelPiper PA-34-220T

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-16) On January 31, 1996, at 2155 MST radio and radar contact with a Piper PA-34-220T, N83809 was lost near estes park, Colorado. Pilot was on an IFR flight plan over mountainous terrain when radar contact was lost. Search and rescue efforts have been terminated. Ac is still missing (FTW96FAMS2). Update: ac found on ypsilon mountain in rocky mountain national park on or about 03/03/96 @ elevation at impact 13,164/AC destroyed; wreckage inaccessible except by world class mountain climbers. Body part samples recovered for dna verification. (FTW96FA145).

As the FAA filed it

(-16) ON JANUARY 31, 1996, AT 2155 MST RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WITH A PIPER PA-34-220T, N83809 WAS LOST NEAR ESTES PARK, COLORADO. PILOT WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHEN RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN TERMINATED. AC IS STILL MISSING (FTW96FAMS2). UPDATE: AC FOUND ON YPSILON MOUNTAIN IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK ON OR ABOUT 03/03/96 @ ELEVATION AT IMPACT 13,164/AC DESTROYED; WRECKAGE INACCESSIBLE EXCEPT BY WORLD CLASS MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS. BODY PART SAMPLES RECOVERED FOR DNA VERIFICATION. (FTW96FA145).

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW96FA145Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportEstes Park, CODescent into mountainous terrain for reasons undetermined.Feb 1, 1996 · Destroyed