# NTSB FTW69A0053: Douglas DC-9, N1304T, Harlingen, TX, February 6, 1969

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: February 6, 1969
- Place: Harlingen, TX · HARLINGEN, TX
- Location: 26.1906° N, 97.6961° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Harlingen, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1906&lon=-97.6961&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 59 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 8, 1970
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 191463
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW69A0053
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69A0053

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-0052   69/2/6    HARLINGEN,TEX       PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 102
        TIME - 2230                    N4531R              PX-  0  0  0  PRACTICE                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0 59                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HARLINGEN INDUSTR
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HARLINGEN,TEX               HARLINGEN,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT FACILITIES: RUNWAY LIGHTING
           PERSONNEL - AIRPORT SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL: OTHER
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-US AIR CARRIER
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - RADAR SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO                                   HORIZONTAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -   7
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO                                ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - OPERATING
        REMARKS- IMPROPERLY INSTALLED REIL SYSTEM CAUSED EXCESSIVE GLARE. PA-28 PLT DIDNT ADVISE APC OF LOCAL FLT.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-0052   69/2/6    HARLINGEN,TEX       DOUGLAS DC-9        CR-  0  0  4  SCHED DOM PASSG SRV       AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 2230                    N1304T              PX-  0  0 55                            UNK/NR, 28000 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  1  0                            HOURS, 1909 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HARLINGEN INDUSTR
        OPERATOR - TEXAS INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES,INC.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          LITTLE ROCK,ARK             MCALLEN,TEX                  HARLINGEN,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT FACILITIES: RUNWAY LIGHTING
           PERSONNEL - AIRPORT SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL: OTHER
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-US AIR CARRIER
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - RADAR SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO                                   HORIZONTAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -   7
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - YES                               ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - OPERATING
        REMARKS- PA-28 FLEW L HAND PATTERN.WAS OVERTAKEN BY DC-9 ON STRAIGHT-IN FINAL. UNCONTROLLED APT.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: N1304T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-9
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Airport: Harlingen Industr

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N4531R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4531R-1970-06-23), registration cancelled 1970-06-23, S/N 28-21234 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Harlingen Industr

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.