# NTSB SEA74AS040: Piper PA-28, Butte, MT, April 27, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 27, 1974
- Place: Butte, MT · BUTTE, MT
- Location: 46.0038° N, 112.5347° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Butte, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0038&lon=-112.5347&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 2, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170159
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA74AS040
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74AS040

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-0004  74/4/27  NR.BUTTE,MONT         PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             CERTIFICATE OTHER, AGE
        TIME - 0925                    CF-XCN              PX-  1  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  19, 110 TOTAL HOURS, 53
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         BUTTE,MONT                   DILLON,MONT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    4500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      39
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          280                                                       14
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- CLIMBED TO 10500FT TO CLEAR MTNS.ACFT NEAR MAX GWT.CRASHED IN MTNS,8450FT LVL.RCVRD 4/28/74.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: CF-XCN (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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