# NTSB DEN74AD047: Piper PA-30A, N8269Y, Aspen, CO, March 24, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 24, 1974
- Place: Aspen, CO · ASPEN, CO
- Location: 39.1952° N, 106.8368° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Aspen, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1952&lon=-106.8368&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 186333
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN74AD047
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74AD047

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0843  74/3/24    ASPEN,COLO          PIPER PA-30A        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 38, 1000
        TIME - 1055                    N8269Y              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ASPEN,COLO                  GARY,IND
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      39
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          330                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- IFR FLT PLAN NOT YET ACTIVATED.DA 10000FT.OVR TKOF WT 323LB.PLT TIME TO 6/15/72.RCVRD 7/7/74.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8269Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8269Y-1975-06-10), registration cancelled 1975-06-10, S/N 301398 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30A
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19740324009269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740324009269A), Mar 24, 1974: Piper PA30, Aspen, CO, Destroyed, 4 fatal. IFR flt plan not yet activated. Da 10000FT.ovr tkof wt 323LB.plt time to 6/15/72.rcvrd 7/7/74.

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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