# NTSB FTW68D0543: Piper PA-24, N5945P, Ralls, TX, March 30, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 30, 1968
- Place: Ralls, TX · RALLS, TX
- Location: 33.6788° N, 101.3846° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ralls, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6788&lon=-101.3846&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 17, 1968
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 110757
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW68D0543
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW68D0543

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1126  68/3/30    RALLS,TEX           PIPER PA-24         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 38, 200
        TIME - 1600                    N5945P              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 35 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  10000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      68
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          180                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- T/O FROM FARM STRIP,DRIFTED INTO POWER LINE DUE TO SUDDEN STRONG WINDS FROM APPROACHING STORM.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5945P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5945P-1995-11-03), registration cancelled 1995-11-03, S/N 24-1035 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-180) (registry code 7102403) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: 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.

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