# NTSB DEN74DTE37: Piper PA-22, N159F, South Fork, CO, January 6, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: January 6, 1974
- Place: South Fork, CO · SOUTH FORK, CO
- Location: 37.6692° N, 106.6429° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of South Fork, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6692&lon=-106.6429&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 25, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187264
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN74DTE37
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74DTE37

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0052   74/1/6  NR.SOUTH FORK,COLO    PIPER PA-22         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 32, 246
        TIME - 1430                    N159F               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 140 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DENVER,COLO                 GALLUP,N MEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           TERRAIN - SNOW-COVERED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  LOW ON FUEL
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       20
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       35
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- LANDED IN DEEP SNOW DUE TO WX AND LOW FUEL STATE.FLT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN CLOUDY CONDITIONS
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N159F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- 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 19740106000909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740106000909A), Jan 6, 1974: Piper PA22, South Fork, CO, Substantial damage. Landed in deep snow due to wx and low fuel state. Flt over mountainous terrain in cloudy conditions

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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