# NTSB SEA79FA026: Piper PA-22, N4740A, Spencer, ID, March 16, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 16, 1979
- Place: Spencer, ID · SPENCER, ID
- Location: 44.3678° N, 112.1843° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Spencer, ID, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3678&lon=-112.1843&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 5, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137548
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA79FA026
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FA026

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0616  79/3/16    SPENCER,ID          PIPER PA-22         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, UNK/NR
        TIME - 1430                    N4740A              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          IDAHO FALLS,ID             UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                       500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       30
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          130                                                       18
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 3/18/79.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4740A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4740A-1981-02-19), registration cancelled 1981-02-19, S/N 22-3884 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (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 19790316008969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790316008969A), Mar 16, 1979: Piper PA22, Spencer, ID, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft flew into a hill. Pilot was advised that VFR flight was not recommended.

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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