# NTSB DEN76AD021: Piper PA-23, N4770P, Penasco, NM, October 19, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 19, 1975
- Place: Penasco, NM · PENASCO, NM
- Location: 36.1703° N, 105.6907° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Peñasco, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1703&lon=-105.6907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 12, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 151465
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN76AD021
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76AD021

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3736  75/10/19 NR.PENASCO,NM         PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 498
        TIME - 1230                    N4770P              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 47 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALBUQUERQUE,NM              HOBBS,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISREGARD OF GOOD OPERATING PRACTICE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        REMARKS- RECOVERY DATE 11/6/75.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4770P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4770P-1975-12-11), registration cancelled 1975-12-11, S/N 27-315 (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)
- 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.