# NTSB DEN79DTC06: Piper PA-31, N9026Y, Pinedale, WY, January 21, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: January 21, 1979
- Place: Pinedale, WY · PINEDALE, WY
- Location: 42.8676° N, 109.8705° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pinedale, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8676&lon=-109.8705&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137082
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79DTC06
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79DTC06

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1074  79/1/21    PINEDALE,WY         PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1845                    N9026Y              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  38, 12762 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            213 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WENZ
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DENVER,CO                   PINEDALE,WY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          GROUND FOG                                               IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9026Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9026Y-1979-04-17), registration cancelled 1979-04-17, S/N 3136 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31) (registry code 7103103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Wenz

## 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 19790121001279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790121001279A), Jan 21, 1979: Piper PA31, Pinedale, WY, Destroyed. Pilot lost visual reference on final in fog. Aircraft landed in snow short of runway

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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