20231125017699A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-28-180 · Mertzon, TX · November 25, 2023

Date: November 25, 2023 · 18:35 local
Place: Mertzon, TX
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N7763W
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR24FA040
Reported as: Piper PA-28-180
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 3
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Private pilot, student

N7763WRegistered now · Piper PA-28-180S/N 28-1762 · Built 1964 Airframe modelPiper PA-28-180 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On November 25, 2023, at approximately 1835, a Piper PA-28-180 aircraft impacted the ground at approximately 14 miles northwest of Mertzon, Texas. The aircraft was being operated on a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and VFR flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot, and two passengers sustained fatal injuries. The flight originated from big lake, Texas on November 25, 2023, at approximately 1800.

As the FAA filed it

ON NOVEMBER 25, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 1835, A PIPER PA-28-180 AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AT APPROXIMATELY 14 MILES NORTHWEST OF MERTZON, TEXAS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT. INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, AND THE PILOT, AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM BIG LAKE, TEXAS ON NOVEMBER 25, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 1800.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR24FA040Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportMertzon, TXThe non-instrument-rated pilot’s continued visual flight into night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s overconfidence.Nov 26, 2023 · Destroyed