# NTSB DEN77FQD18: Piper PA-23, N4357P, Carlsbad, NM, April 26, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 26, 1977
- Place: Carlsbad, NM · CARLSBAD, NM
- Location: 32.4207° N, 104.2288° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Carlsbad, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4207&lon=-104.2288&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 3, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 152462
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN77FQD18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN77FQD18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0718  77/4/26    CARLSBAD,NM         PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 48, 1100
        TIME - 1739                    N4357P              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 200 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CAVERN CITY AIR
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CARLSBAD,NM                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: PROPELLER                       IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
           STALL                                                    LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - PROPELLER AND ACCESSORIES: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - RPM-UNCONTROLLABLE-OVERSPEED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PRESSURE TOO LOW
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON AIRPORT
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      81
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          310                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- LEFT PROP OVERSPEED.DOME AIR PRESSURE 70PSI IN FEATHER.D-A 6000FT.LOWERED GEAR THEN RAISED IT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4357P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4357P), registered now, S/N 23-1857, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Cavern City Air

## 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 19770426009839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770426009839A), Apr 26, 1977: Piper PA23160, Carlsbad, NM, Substantial damage. Left prop overspeed. Dome air pressure 70PSI in feather.d-a 6000FT.lowered gear then raised it.

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.