What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1996-02-01 involved a Piper PA-34-220T, registration N83809, at Estes Park, CO.

Pilot Reports Heading Problems Before Losing Radar Contact Over Wyoming (N83809)

On February 1, 1996, a Piper PA-34-220T (registration N83809) was involved in an aviation accident near Estes Park, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Descent into mountainous terrain for reasons undetermined. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

A pilot on a night IFR flight from Colorado to Idaho reported heading problems and switched to compass navigation before radar contact was lost. The wreckage was found months later, but examination failed to determine the cause of the descent.

Incident Overview

A pilot filed an IFR flight plan and departed at night from Erie, Colorado, en route to Boise, Idaho. After receiving his IFR clearance in flight, the pilot requested a VFR-on-top clearance and a vector heading for Rock Springs, Wyoming. He stated, "I'm having a little heading problems here, but switching to compass nav, but we're VFR on top. In fact, it's pretty much VFR below us now."

Loss of Contact

Nine minutes after that communication, radar contact with the airplane was lost. The airplane remained missing for approximately one month. The wreckage was eventually recovered from a mountain side seven months later. No distress call was received.

Radar Data

Radar data indicated the airplane descended from an encoded altitude of 15,100 feet to 13,900 feet in 1 minute and 31 seconds, a descent rate of about 800 feet per minute.

Wreckage Examination

Examination of the wreckage failed to explain why the airplane descended or provide any causal factors for the accident.

1996-02-01: Piper PA-34-220T (N83809) — Estes Park, CO