# NTSB FTW71AF073: Piper PA-22, N5870D, Cleveland, TX, May 8, 1971

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 8, 1971
- Place: Cleveland, TX · CLEVELAND, TX
- Location: 30.3382° N, 95.0903° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cleveland, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3382&lon=-95.0903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 25, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 162285
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW71AF073
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71AF073

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4260   71/5/8    CLEVELAND,TEX       PIPER PA-22         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 47, 4100
        TIME - 2050                    N5870D              PX-  1  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CLEVELAND MUN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          JACKSONVILLE,TEX            CLEVELAND,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       63
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          330                                                       25
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ACFT IMPACTED ABT 3/8MI NW OF DEST.ARPT WX AT TIME OF ACDT-HEAVY RAIN,HI WINDS,FOG ROLLING IN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5870D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5870D-1971-07-08), registration cancelled 1971-07-08, S/N 22-4549 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Cleveland Mun

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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