# NTSB SEA81FA011: Piper PA-12, N78709, Rexburg, ID, December 12, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 12, 1980
- Place: Rexburg, ID · REXBURG, ID
- Location: 43.8229° N, 111.7910° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rexburg, ID, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8229&lon=-111.7910&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 17, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127611
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA81FA011
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA81FA011

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3217  80/12/12 NR.REXBURG,ID         PIPER PA-12         CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 27, 382
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N78709              PX-  1  0  0  HUNTING                   TOTAL HOURS, 21 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         REXBURG,ID                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- COYOTE HUNTING,COYOTE TRACKS FND NR WRECKAGE.APPROACHING DARKNESS.RECOVERY DATE 12/15/80.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78709](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78709-2013-02-27), registration cancelled 2013-02-27, S/N 12-3985, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (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 19801212075029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801212075029A), Dec 12, 1980: Piper PA12, Rexburg, ID, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Occupants found frozen. Airplane wrecked by ground collision. Cause unknown. Airplane torched by occupants.

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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