# NTSB DEN79FA036: Piper PA-32, N6309C, Carrizozo, NM, April 12, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 12, 1979
- Place: Carrizozo, NM · CARRIZOZO, NM
- Location: 33.6433° N, 105.8411° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Carrizozo, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6433&lon=-105.8411&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 18, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136328
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FA036
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FA036

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2197  79/4/12  NR.CARRIZOZO,NM       PIPER PA-32         CR-  2  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0945                    N6309C              PX-  1  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            AGE 33, 1923 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         CARRIZOZO,NM                 ALBUQUERQUE,NM.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           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                                                  9000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      SNOW, SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          BLOWING SNOW                                             270
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           35                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          OTHER
        REMARKS- HIT MOUNTAIN.IFR FLT PLAN NOT ACTIVATED.RECOVERY DATE 4/13/79.MTNS OBS BY CLOUDS & BLOWING SNOW.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6309C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6309C-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 32R-7885024, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300) (registry code 7103215) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ruidoso

## 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 19790412025869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790412025869A), Apr 12, 1979: Piper PA32RT300, Carrizozo, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Hit mountain side. Low clouds,blowing snow,severe turbulence. IFR rated pilot proceeded VFR below minimum altitude.

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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