# NTSB SEA80FA047: Piper PA-24, N6171P, White Pass, WA, December 11, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 11, 1979
- Place: White Pass, WA · WHITE PASS, WA
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 23, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132132
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA80FA047
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA80FA047

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3975  79/12/11   WHITE PASS,WA       PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 49, 1096
        TIME - 1905                    N6171P              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 150 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CALDWELL,ID                 OLYMPIA,WA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: EMERGENCY DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
        FACTOR(S)
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: OTHER
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              30
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          260                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- ANOTHER ACFT,SAME RTE & ALT,15MI AHEAD,RPRTD LIGHT RIME ICG.NOT BRFD ON ICG FCSTS.RECOVERED 9/8/80
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6171P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6171P-2013-02-25), registration cancelled 2013-02-25, S/N 24-1272, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (registry code 7102403) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (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 19791211044079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791211044079A), Dec 11, 1979: Piper PA24, White Pass, WA, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Tried to traverse mountain area in winter storm. Airframe iced up. Unable to maintain altitude. Struck trees.

## Other investigations on N6171P (2)

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.

- [NTSB SEA80FAMS1](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA80FAMS1), Dec 11, 1979: Piper PA-24 (N6171P), Missing Aircraft, destroyed, 4 fatal
- [NTSB DIA69F0055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DIA69F0055), Aug 16, 1968: Piper PA-24 (N6171P), Alexandria, VA, substantial damage

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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