# NTSB DEN82FTE14: Piper PA-32, N32916, Buena Vista, CO, December 24, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 24, 1981
- Place: Buena Vista, CO · BUENA VISTA, CO
- Location: 38.8299° N, 106.1407° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Buena Vista, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8299&lon=-106.1407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 4 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 26, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123031
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82FTE14
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82FTE14

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3206  81/12/24 NR.BUENA VISTA,CO     PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 136
        TIME - 1430                    N32916              PX-  0  4  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 7 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DALHART,TX                  ASPEN,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      25
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          210                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- CROSSING MTN RIDGES,CRASHED 11,900FT LEVEL.PLT LEFT FOR HELP,DEEP SNOW,NOT FOUND,INJURY PRESUMED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N32916](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32916-1984-01-13), registration cancelled 1984-01-13, S/N 327540073, built 1974 (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: Substantial damage

## 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 19811224083299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811224083299A), Dec 24, 1981: Piper PA32300, Buena Vista, CO, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed in mountainous terrain when it was unable to outclimb rising terrain. Pilot lost trying hike out.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.