# NTSB DEN77FTE35: Piper PA-12, N7729H, Ridgway, CO, April 25, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 25, 1977
- Place: Ridgway, CO · RIDGWAY, CO
- Location: 38.1572° N, 107.7546° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ridgway, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1572&lon=-107.7546&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 158308
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN77FTE35
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN77FTE35

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0892  77/4/25  NR.RIDGWAY,CO         PIPER PA-12         CR-  0  2  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 31, 2176
        TIME - 1845                    N7729H              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      TOTAL HOURS, 11 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MONTROSE,CO                 RETURN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        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                                                      50
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- DA 10000FT. PIC PRESENTED HIMSELF AS FLT INSTRUCTOR. NO RECORD OF CFI FOUND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7729H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7729H-1977-08-03), registration cancelled 1977-08-03, S/N 12-625, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (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 19770425011499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770425011499A), Apr 25, 1977: Piper PA12, Ridgway, CO, Destroyed. Da 10000FT. PIC presented himself as flt instructor. No record of CFI found.

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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