# NTSB FTW71AF050: Piper PA-23, N4971C, Athens, TX, February 19, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 19, 1971
- Place: Athens, TX · ATHENS, TX
- Location: 32.2026° N, 95.8308° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Athens, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2026&lon=-95.8308&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 28, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 160249
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW71AF050
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71AF050

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0228  71/2/19    ATHENS,TEX          PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 20, 8 TOTAL
        TIME - 0200                    N4971C              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - JONES
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ATHENS,TEX                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - STOLEN OR UNAUTH=
           TERRAIN - OTHER
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- STOLEN ACFT. TOOK OFF INTO AREA OF SPARSE LTG.OCCUPANTS HAD HISTORY OF DRUG ABUSE,MENTAL ILLNESS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4971C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4971C-1971-03-22), registration cancelled 1971-03-22, S/N 23-1427 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Jones

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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