# NTSB DEN81FA033: Piper PA-32, N4243T, Escalante, UT, February 28, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 28, 1981
- Place: Escalante, UT · ESCALANTE, UT
- Location: 37.7624° N, 111.5972° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Escalante, UT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7624&lon=-111.5972&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 21, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126575
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FA033
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FA033

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3616  81/2/28  NR.ESCALANTE,UT       PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 48, 1400
        TIME - 1600                    N4243T              PX-  5  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PAGE,AZ                     PROVO,UT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,ALTITUDE OR CLEARANCE
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 3/9/81.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4243T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4243T-1984-02-17), registration cancelled 1984-02-17, S/N 32-7240051, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (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 19810228009599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810228009599A), Feb 28, 1981: Piper PA32300, Escalante, UT, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Unable to clear rising terrain. Struck trees on mountain ridge. Was in habit of grazing ridges on climb.

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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