# NTSB FTW72AF065: Piper PA-32, N7713J, Artesia Wells, TX, April 9, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 9, 1972
- Place: Artesia Wells, TX · ARTESIA WELLS, TX
- Location: 28.2800° N, 99.2845° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Artesia Wells, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2800&lon=-99.2845&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 165761
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW72AF065
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72AF065

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0666   72/4/9    ARTESIA WELLS,TEX   PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 31, 238
        TIME - 2110                    N7713J              PX-  1  1  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 84 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          DALLAS,TEX                  LAREDO,TEX                   AUSTIN,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
           TERRAIN - OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       70
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          120                                                       9
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- OBS SAW ACFT AT VERY LOW ALT ON DARK NITE. AREA SPARSELY LTD. FSS TOLD PLT VFR FLT NOT RECOMMENDED
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7713J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7713J-1972-08-14), registration cancelled 1972-08-14, S/N 32-1115, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-260) (registry code 7103206) (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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