# NTSB DEN79FA033: Piper PA-34, N2257M, Lander, WY, March 27, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 27, 1979
- Place: Lander, WY · LANDER, WY
- Location: 42.8309° N, 108.7306° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lander, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8309&lon=-108.7306&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 14, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137579
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FA033
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FA033

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0659  79/3/27  NR.LANDER,WY          PIPER PA-34         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1604                    N2257M              PX-  3  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            33, 3400 TOTAL HOURS, 550
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CASPER,WY                   AFTON,WY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      SNOW, SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          BLOWING SNOW                                             IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- FA-MTNS OBSCURED BY CLOUDS.HIT MTN 12800FT MSL.RECOVERY DATE 3/29/79.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2257M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2257M-2012-10-16), registration cancelled 2012-10-16, S/N 34-7870074, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, 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 19790327013889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790327013889A), Mar 27, 1979: Piper PA34200T, Lander, WY, Destroyed. No weather check, mountainous terrain, severe turbulence, snow showers in area of flight. Hit mountain side.

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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