# NTSB SEA76AS079: Piper PA-34, N15867, Kent, WA, September 25, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 25, 1976
- Place: Kent, WA · KENT, WA
- Location: 47.3809° N, 122.2348° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kent, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3809&lon=-122.2348&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 21, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 155333
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA76AS079
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA76AS079

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2560  76/9/25    KENT,WA             PIPER PA-34         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 21, 394
        TIME - 2345                    N15867              PX-  3  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 35 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CREST AIRPARK
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KENT,WA                     ELLENSBURG,WA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INSTRUMENTS-MISREAD OR FAILED TO READ
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        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                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          GROUND FOG                                               VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- INITIALLY STRUCK TREE HALF MILE FM RWY ON RISING TERRAIN. WENT INVERTED & HIT OTHER TREES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15867](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15867-1976-11-22), registration cancelled 1976-11-22, S/N 34-7350103, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Crest Airpark

## 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 19760925031359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760925031359A), Sep 25, 1976: Piper PA34200, Kent, WA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Initially struck tree half mile fm rwy on rising terrain. Went inverted & hit other trees.

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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