# NTSB DEN81FA013: Piper PA-24, N5873P, Teton Village, WY, December 25, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 25, 1980
- Place: Teton Village, WY · TETON VILLAGE, WY
- Location: 43.5907° N, 110.8420° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Teton Village, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5907&lon=-110.8420&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127641
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FA013
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FA013

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3637  80/12/25   TETON VILLAGE,WY    PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 31, 483
        TIME - 1500                    N5873P              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 65 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TETON VILLAGE,WY            BUTTE,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                          SNOW, FREEZING RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       35
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- ACFT NOT DEICER EQPD.PLT REPORTED UN CLIMB.HIT MTN APRX 9000FT MSL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5873P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5873P-1983-03-03), registration cancelled 1983-03-03, S/N 24-956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (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 19801225078379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801225078379A), Dec 25, 1980: Piper PA24250, Teton Village, WY, Destroyed. Unable to climb or maintain altitude in mountain area with severe downdrafts, snow clouds, & freezing rain.

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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