# NTSB DEN78FA050: Piper PA-28, N9669J, Silverton, CO, June 11, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 11, 1978
- Place: Silverton, CO · SILVERTON, CO
- Location: 37.8108° N, 107.6650° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Silverton, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8108&lon=-107.6650&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140705
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FA050
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FA050

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2262  78/6/11  NR.SILVERTON,CO       PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 34, UNK/NR
        TIME - 1430                    N9669J              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DURANGO,CO                  GRAND JUNCTION,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      72
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ACCIDENT SITE 11000FT MSL.DENS ALT COMPUTED TO BE 14000FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9669J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9669J-2009-09-21), registration cancelled 2009-09-21, S/N 28-3838, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (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 19780611042689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780611042689A), Jun 11, 1978: Piper PA28180, Silverton, CO, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Accident site 11000FT MSL.dens alt computed to be 14000FT.

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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