# NTSB DEN74AD040: Piper PA-34, N4980T, Taos, NM, February 17, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 17, 1974
- Place: Taos, NM · TAOS, NM
- Location: 36.3871° N, 105.5808° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Taos, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3871&lon=-105.5808&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 4, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80076
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN74AD040
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74AD040

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0830  74/2/17    TAOS,N MEX          PIPER PA-34         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 2245                    N4980T              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 36, 1599 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            323 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TAOS MUNICIPAL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN ANTONIO,TEX             TAOS,N MEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INSTRUMENTS-MISREAD OR FAILED TO READ
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  3300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     350
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           9                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- SHOULDER HARNESS NOT USED.RCVRD 2/20/74.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4980T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4980T-1974-05-29), registration cancelled 1974-05-29, S/N 347250192 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Taos Municipal

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19740217009009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740217009009A), Feb 17, 1974: Piper PA34200, Taos, NM, Destroyed. Shoulder harness not used. Rcvrd 2/20/74.

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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