Date:	Thursday 6 October 1966
Time:	19:40
Type:	Piper PA-30-160 Twin Comanche
Owner/operator:	Executive Investments Inc
Registration:	N7289Y
MSN:	30-327
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Category:	Accident
Location:	Mount Mansfield, near Underhill, Chittenden County, Vermont -   United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Newport State Airport, Newport, Vermont (EFK/KEFK)
Destination airport:	Burlington Municpal Airport, Burlington, Vermont (BTV/KBTV)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
On the night of October 7, 1966, a Piper Comanche N7289Y (Call sign "89 Yankee") carrying three Canadian citizens crashed into Mount Mansfield, the state’s highest mountain. (At approximate co ordinates: 44°32′38″N 72°48′52″W). The plane impacted roughly five hundred feet from the summit on the Underhill, Vermont, side. There were no survivors. The dead were identified as, (pilot) David Shefler, 42, Robert Rosen, 46, and Mary Pert, 30. The summit of Mount Mansfield is 4,393 feet above sea level. The aircraft impacted at approximately 3,800 feet.

The small twin engine Piper Commanche, had been missing since 19:40 on Thursday evening, October 6th, 1966, after the pilot had radioed the Burlington Airport for landing instructions; it was discovered at about 2:30 P.M. the following afternoon by members of the Civil Air Patrol. The Crash Site of the accident was due west of the old Summit House site, some 500 feet down the Underhill side.

According to the official NTSB report into the accident:

"Pilot in command - failed to see or avoid objects or obstructions; improper in-flight decisions or planning. Pilot advised to delay 10 mins for practice ILS due airport traffic, flew at an altitude below obstructing terrain".

There was a legal case as a result of this accident (see link #10): the case was concluded on November 3 1971, and the families of the three deceased were awarded damages of $50,000 against the operators of Burlington Municipal Airport (The State of Vermont), quote "The plaintiffs sought damages under the Vermont wrongful death act, 14 V.S.A. 1492(b), alleging negligent and careless operation of a federal aviation facility, causing the crash of a private plane and contemporaneous death of its occupants".

1. NTSB Identification: NYC67A0057 at https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=23149&key=0
2. FAA: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=7289Y
3. https://www.stowetoday.com/stowe_reporter/community/the-way-it-was-aftermath-of-tragic-plane-crash-on/image_5e1042fe-3739-11e3-8d2d-0019bb2963f4.html
4. https://www.newenglandaviationhistory.com/tag/vermont-plane-crash/
5. http://www.gendisasters.com/vermont/22997/mount-mansfield-vt-twin-engine-crash-oct-1966
6. Lewiston Daily Sun, “Find 3 Canadians Dead In Vermont Plane Crash”, October 8, 1966
7. New York Times, “Three Canadians Killed In Air Crash In Vermont”, October 8, 1966
8. Ottawa Journal Ontario Canada October 10, 1966
9. http://planecrashmap.com/plane/vt/N7289Y/
10. https://casetext.com/case/ross-v-united-states-14

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
25-Feb-2008 12:00	ASN archive	Added
18-Jan-2017 19:18	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
18-Jan-2017 19:23	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Departure airport]
08-Jul-2019 18:19	BEAVERSPOTTER	Updated [Cn]