# NTSB ANC80FA012: Piper PA-20, N9710D, Palmer, AK, November 15, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 15, 1979
- Place: Palmer, AK · PALMER, AK
- Location: 61.5972° N, 149.1147° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Palmer, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5972&lon=-149.1147&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 21, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132792
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC80FA012
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80FA012

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3891  79/11/15 NR.PALMER,AK          PIPER PA-20         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 28, 2500
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N9710D              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GULKANA,AK                  WASILLA,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- ICING,TURBC FORECASTED FOR CHICKALOON PASS.VFR FLT NOT RECOMMENDED.RECOVERY DATE 5/2/80.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9710D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9710D-1983-06-25), registration cancelled 1983-06-25, S/N 22-6622 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-20
- Registry model: [Piper PA-20-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20-150) (registry code 7102016) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19791115043789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791115043789A), Nov 15, 1979: Piper PA20, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed in wooded area. Pilot received unfavorable weather forecast, but decided to take a look.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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