# NTSB DEN66A0009: Piper PA-24, N7960P, Ruidoso, NM, August 13, 1965

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 13, 1965
- Place: Ruidoso, NM · RUIDOSO, NM
- Location: 33.3495° N, 105.6688° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ruidoso, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3495&lon=-105.6688&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 27, 1965
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 177327
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN66A0009
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN66A0009

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-0765  65/8/13    RUIDOSO,N.MEX.      PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1155                    N7960P              PX-  2  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 53, 12261 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RUIDOSO MUNI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              LANDING: GO-AROUND
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO EXTEND LANDING GEAR
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      80
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PILOT FORGOT GEAR-EXTENDED IT CHANGED HIS MIND THEN TRIED GO AROUND UNDER IMPOSSIBLE CONDITIONS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7960P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7960P-1965-10-22), registration cancelled 1965-10-22, S/N 24-3197 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ruidoso Muni

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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