# NTSB LAX80FA114: Piper PA-32R, N9877K, Safford, AZ, December 20, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 20, 1979
- Place: Safford, AZ · SAFFORD, AZ
- Location: 32.8333° N, 109.6974° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Safford, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8333&lon=-109.6974&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 10, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132105
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FA114
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FA114

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3436  79/12/20 NR.SAFFORD,AZ         PIPER PA-32R        CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 46, 3100
        TIME - 2245                    N9877K              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          JACKSON,MS                  PHOENIX,AZ                   SAN ANTONIO,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      32
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          195                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ELEV OF CRASH SITE-9200FT.CLDS/ICG CONDS ABV 10,000FT.MTN TOPS OBSCD.RECOVERY DATE-6/24/80.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9877K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9877K-2009-09-17), registration cancelled 2009-09-17, S/N 32R-7880039, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (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 19791220041689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791220041689A), Dec 20, 1979: Piper PA32R300, Safford, AZ, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed in mountainous area at night. Thunderstorms reported in vicinity at time of accident.

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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