# NTSB DEN78FA002: Piper PA-32, N5400F, Cedar Fort, UT, September 30, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 30, 1977
- Place: Cedar Fort, UT · CEDAR FORT, UT
- Location: 40.3417° N, 112.1088° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cedar Fort, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3417&lon=-112.1088&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 21, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144208
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FA002
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FA002

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4135  77/9/30  NR.CEDAR FORT,UT      PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 24, 378
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N5400F              PX-  6  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 54 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          HOUSTON,TX                  SALT LAKE CITY,UT            FARMINGTON,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT FATIGUE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                      RAIN, FREEZING RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- ABT 300LBS OVR MAX GWT AT TIME OF ACCIDENT.RECOVERY DATE 10/7/77.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5400F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5400F-2012-08-21), registration cancelled 2012-08-21, S/N 32-7740003, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- 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 19770930039489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770930039489A), Sep 30, 1977: Piper PA32RT300, Cedar Fort, UT, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Abt 300LBS ovr max gwt at time of accident. Recovery date 10/7/77.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.