# NTSB SEA80FTI02: Piper PA-32R, N2168D, Chester, MT, December 19, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: December 19, 1979
- Place: Chester, MT · CHESTER, MT
- Location: 48.5113° N, 110.9661° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chester, MT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5113&lon=-110.9661&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132644
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA80FTI02
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA80FTI02

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3293  79/12/19 NR.CHESTER,MT         PIPER PA-32R        CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 36, 580
        TIME - 1200                    N2168D              PX-  0  1  2  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 419 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         CHESTER,MT                   RUDYARD,MT
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
        REMARKS- ATTMPTD TKOF FROM FLD OF MINIMUM LENGTH AT NEAR MAX GROSS WT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2168D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2168D-1982-07-28), registration cancelled 1982-07-28, S/N 32R-7987054, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (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 19791219035349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791219035349A), Dec 19, 1979: Piper PA32RT300T, Chester, MT, Substantial damage. Attempted takeoff from short soft farm field at gross weight. Misjudged acft's performance.

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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