# NTSB DEN74FQA45: Piper PA-23, N5180Y, Albuquerque, NM, May 17, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 17, 1974
- Place: Albuquerque, NM · ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Location: 35.0845° N, 106.6511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albuquerque, NM, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0845&lon=-106.6511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 8, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124221
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN74FQA45
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74FQA45

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1431  74/5/17    ALBUQUERQUE,N MEX   PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1406                    N5180Y              PX-  0  0  4  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 46, 324 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            36 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ALBUQUERQUE INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALBUQUERQUE,N MEX           ROSWELL,N MEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           STALL: MUSH                                              LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - RECIEVED RECORDED BRIEFING BY LFMF RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      82
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          280                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- MIXTURES TOO LEAN DRG TKOF. INOP ENG NOT FEATHERED.ACFT BELOW VMC ON FINAL APCH. DENS ALT 7900 FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5180Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5180Y-2025-06-30), registration cancelled 2025-06-30, S/N 27-2226, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Albuquerque Intl

## 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 19740517015159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740517015159A), May 17, 1974: Piper PA23250, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Mixtures too lean drg tkof. Inop eng not feathered. Acft below VMC on final apch. Dens alt 7900 ft.

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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