# NTSB DEN71AD016: Piper PA-32, N4796S, Douglas, WY, October 10, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 10, 1970
- Place: Douglas, WY · DOUGLAS, WY
- Location: 42.7548° N, 105.3978° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Douglas, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7548&lon=-105.3978&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170506
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN71AD016
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN71AD016

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1925  70/10/10   DOUGLAS,WYO         PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0810                    N4796S              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 41, 6513 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RAPID CITY,S DAK            CASPER,WYO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER CONSIDERABLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 10/18/70.ATTEMPTED LETDOWN WITHOUT APCH PLATES.BECAME LOST.STRUCK MNTN FACE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4796S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4796S-1972-01-17), registration cancelled 1972-01-17, S/N 32-1181 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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

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