# NTSB FTW71AF019: Piper PA-28, N5223L, San Juan, TX, October 23, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 23, 1970
- Place: San Juan, TX · SAN JUAN, TX
- Location: 26.1894° N, 98.1518° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Juan, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1894&lon=-98.1518&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 3, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 165628
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW71AF019
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71AF019

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1648  70/10/23   SAN JUAN,TEX        PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1050                    N5223L              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 52, 3500 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MCALLEN,TEX                 SAN JUAN,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: BUILDING(S)                               IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION
           MISCELLANEOUS - SUICIDE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- DELIBERATELY DOVE INTO PRE-ANNOUNCED CHURCH AFTER REQUESTING CHURCHES IN AREA BE EVACUATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5223L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5223L-1970-10-28), registration cancelled 1970-10-28, S/N 28-4517, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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