# NTSB DEN76AD074: Piper PA-23, N777MF, Steamboat Spgs, CO, September 26, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 26, 1976
- Place: Steamboat Spgs, CO · STEAMBOAT SPGS, CO
- Location: 40.4756° N, 106.8229° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Steamboat Springs, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4756&lon=-106.8229&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156154
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN76AD074
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76AD074

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3762  76/9/26    STEAMBOAT SPGS,CO   PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 32, 4686
        TIME - 1308                    N777MF              PX-  5  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 499 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ROUTT COUNTY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          STEAMBOAT SPGS,CO           DENVER CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
          MISC-AFT CARGO DOOR CAME OPEN DURING TAKEOFF
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        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                                                      60
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- WITNESSES SAW TURN TO FINAL STEEPEN-NOSE DROP
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N777MF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N777MF-1977-02-15), registration cancelled 1977-02-15, S/N 27-7405418 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Routt County

## 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 19760926039049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760926039049A), Sep 26, 1976: Piper PA23250, Steamboat Spgs, CO, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Witnesses saw turn to final steepen-nose drop misc-aft cargo door came open during takeoff

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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