# NTSB DEN70A0019: Piper PA-28, N4173J, Eads, CO, September 9, 1969

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 9, 1969
- Place: Eads, CO · EADS, CO
- Location: 38.4816° N, 102.7798° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eads, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4816&lon=-102.7798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 29, 1970
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 159718
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN70A0019
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN70A0019

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2822   69/9/9    EADS,COLO           PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 30, 97 TOTAL
        TIME - 1033                    N4173J              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 48 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          ENID,OKLA                   SALT LAKE CITY,UT            GUNNISON,COLO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- PLT STATED CEILING APRX 300 FT,REQUESTED RADAR POSITION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4173J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4173J-1970-06-30), registration cancelled 1970-06-30, S/N 28-22509 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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