# NTSB FTW69A0035: Piper PA-28R, N3959T, Mentone, TX, November 26, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: November 26, 1968
- Place: Mentone, TX · MENTONE, TX
- Location: 31.7074° N, 103.5989° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mentone, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7074&lon=-103.5989&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80082
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW69A0035
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69A0035

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4172  68/11/26   MENTONE,TEX         PIPER PA-28R        CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1515                    N3959T              PX-  0  1  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            AGE 43, 17788 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 150 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LEAK/LEAKAGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
           TERRAIN - HIDDEN OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- FUEL CONTROL LEAK,CAUSED TOO LEAN MIXTURE. STRUCK SNOW COVERED SAND DUNES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3959T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- 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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