# NTSB DEN79FA056: Piper PA-34, N32418, Wendover, UT, August 17, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 17, 1979
- Place: Wendover, UT · WENDOVER, UT
- Location: 40.7240° N, 114.0251° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wendover, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7240&lon=-114.0251&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 17, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133827
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FA056
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FA056

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3918  79/8/17    WENDOVER,UT         PIPER PA-34         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 84 TOTAL
        TIME - 1920                    N32418              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WENDOVER AF AUX
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WENDOVER,UT                 SALT LAKE CITY,UT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
        REMARKS- NO GROUND REF POINTS IN DIR OF TKOK,DARK NIGHT,5HRS INST TIME.PLT BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL .056%.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N32418](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32418-2012-10-02), registration cancelled 2012-10-02, S/N 34-7570020, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Wendover Af Aux

## 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 19790817040879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790817040879A), Aug 17, 1979: Piper PA34200, Wendover, UT, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Both pilots had been drinking. PIC lost control of airplane on night takeoff over unlighted terrain.

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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