# NTSB DEN82FTA08: Piper PA-24, N9376P, Rock Springs, MT, December 27, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: December 27, 1981
- Place: Rock Springs, MT · ROCK SPRINGS, MT
- Location: 46.8169° N, 106.2470° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rock Springs, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8169&lon=-106.2470&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 14, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123114
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82FTA08
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82FTA08

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3208  81/12/27   ROCK SPRINGS,MT     PIPER PA-24         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0715                    N9376P              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  AGE 61, 15730 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 1502 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PRIVATE STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROCK SPRINGS,MT             MILES CITY,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  100
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       25
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9376P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Private Strip

## 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 19811227081569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811227081569A), Dec 27, 1981: Piper PA24260, Rock Springs, MT, Substantial damage. Departed into low ceiling and fog. Lost control on climb. Hit ground. Flipped over. Unskilled on instruments.

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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