# NTSB SEA77FTI17: Piper PA-28, N9115W, St.Regis, MT, August 6, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 6, 1977
- Place: St.Regis, MT · ST.REGIS, MT
- Location: 47.3049° N, 115.1039° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Regis, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3049&lon=-115.1039&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA77FTI17
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA77FTI17

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2892   77/8/6    ST.REGIS,MT         PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 54, 728
        TIME - 1530                    N9115W              PX-  0  1  0  PRACTICE                  TOTAL HOURS, 515 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ST.REGIS,MT                 SPOKANE,WA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- TALKING TO PSGR.ALLOWED ACFT TO DRIFT TOWARD RISING TERRAIN.UNABLE TO OUTCLIMB TERRAIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9115W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9115W-1977-10-26), registration cancelled 1977-10-26, S/N 28-10727 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (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 19770806024719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770806024719A), Aug 6, 1977: Piper PA28235, St.Regis, MT, Destroyed. Talking to psgr. Allowed acft to drift toward rising terrain. Unable to outclimb terrain.

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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