# NTSB DEN77FQA26: Piper PA-28, N5122G, Las Vegas, NM, March 8, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: March 8, 1977
- Place: Las Vegas, NM · LAS VEGAS, NM
- Location: 35.6049° N, 105.2170° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Las Vegas, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6049&lon=-105.2170&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 11, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 157684
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN77FQA26
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN77FQA26

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0475   77/3/8  NR.LAS VEGAS,NM       PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  2  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1042                    N5122G              PX-  0  0  0  SEARCH AND RESCUE         AGE 36, 1385 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            138 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAS VEGAS NM                RETURN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           WEATHER - ADVERSE WINDS ALOFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  25000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      0
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5122G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5122G-2012-09-10), registration cancelled 2012-09-10, S/N 28-5010, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19770308004729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770308004729A), Mar 8, 1977: Piper PA28180, Las Vegas, NM, Substantial damage

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.
