# NTSB DEN72AD009: Piper PA-22, N8736C, Alamogordo, NM, September 6, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 6, 1971
- Place: Alamogordo, NM · ALAMOGORDO, NM
- Location: 32.8836° N, 105.9636° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Alamogordo, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8836&lon=-105.9636&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 27, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163323
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN72AD009
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN72AD009

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4285   71/9/6    ALAMOGORDO,N MEX    PIPER PA-22         CR-  1  0  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 17, 11 TOTAL
        TIME - 0815                    N8736C              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALAMOGORDO,N MEX            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SKIN AND ATTACHMENTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- 26HRS SINCE ANNUAL INSPECTION,FABRIC SEPARATED FROM L WING IN FLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8736C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8736C-1971-10-20), registration cancelled 1971-10-20, S/N 22-1390 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-135) (registry code 7102206) (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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