# NTSB DEN75FTC07: Piper PA-28, N15276, Yellowstone, WY, August 18, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 18, 1974
- Place: Yellowstone, WY · YELLOWSTONE, WY
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136918
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN75FTC07
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN75FTC07

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2645  74/8/18    YELLOWSTONE,WYO     PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  2  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1050                    N15276              PX-  0  0  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  25, 2456 TOTAL HOURS, 9
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          W.YELLOWSTONE,MONT          BIG PINEY,WYO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      75
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          190                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- TRAPPED IN CANYON.DENSITY ALT 9500FT.HIT TREES DRG ATTMPTD TURN ARND & CRASHED IN RIVER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15276](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15276-1974-10-11), registration cancelled 1974-10-11, S/N 28-7305048, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28) (registry code 7102801) (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 19740818028319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740818028319A), Aug 18, 1974: Piper PA28180, Yellowstone, WY, Destroyed. Trapped in canyon. Density alt 9500FT.hit trees drg attmptd turn arnd & crashed in river.

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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