# NTSB SEA77FA038: Piper PA-28, N1176H, Lavina, MT, June 4, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: June 4, 1977
- Place: Lavina, MT · LAVINA, MT
- Location: 46.2950° N, 108.9388° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lavina, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2950&lon=-108.9388&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 13, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80068
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA77FA038
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA77FA038

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1205   77/6/4    LAVINA,MT           PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 23, 60 TOTAL
        TIME - 1845                    N1176H              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 50 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAVINA,MT                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: DIRT BANK                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO ABORT TAKEOFF
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    25000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      90
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ATMTD TKOF FM UNPAVED COUNTRY RD.RAN OFF RD,THRU SAGEBRUSH,STRUCK WALL OF COULEE.DENS ALT 5700FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1176H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1176H-1977-08-31), registration cancelled 1977-08-31, S/N 28-7725134 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (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 19770604016649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770604016649A), Jun 4, 1977: Piper PA28140, Lavina, MT, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Atmtd tkof fm unpaved country rd. ran off rd,thru sagebrush,struck wall of coulee. Dens alt 5700FT.

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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