# NTSB SEA72AS042: Piper PA-24, N7843P, Ronan, MT, March 23, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 23, 1972
- Place: Ronan, MT · RONAN, MT
- Location: 47.5274° N, 114.0997° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ronan, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5274&lon=-114.0997&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 3, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 165810
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA72AS042
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA72AS042

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0595  72/3/23  NR.RONAN,MONT         PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 39, 1400
        TIME - 0005                    N7843P              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KALISPELL,MONT              MISSOULA,MONT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - PARTIAL BRIEFING BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONNEL, IN PERSON, LIMITED BY PILOT ACTION
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  7500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- RECOVERED 6/12/72 FROM MTN SLOPE.PLT CUT WEA BRIEF SHORT.ACFT NOT DE-ICER EQUIPPED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7843P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7843P-1973-05-07), registration cancelled 1973-05-07, S/N 24-3066 (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

## Other investigations on N7843P (2)

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.

- [NTSB MKC72DTK09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72DTK09), Oct 7, 1971: Piper PA-24 (N7843P), Pierre, SD, substantial damage
- [NTSB SEA70DDG03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA70DDG03), May 15, 1970: Piper PA-24 (N7843P), Anaconda, MT, incident, minor damage

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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