# NTSB FTW73AF001: Piper PA-28, N8602W, Intrcoastl Cty, LA, July 4, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 4, 1972
- Place: Intrcoastl Cty, LA · INTRCOASTL CTY, LA
- Location: 29.7844° N, 92.1562° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Intracoastal City, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7844&lon=-92.1562&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 18, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 166617
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73AF001
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73AF001

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0949   72/7/4    INTRCOASTL CTY,LA   PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 225
        TIME - 1130                    N8602W              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          CANNON,GA                   ANAHUAC,TEX                  MERIDIAN,MISS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      73
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          340                                                       13
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO KNOWN ENROUTE WEA.TSTMS ALONG ROUTE.R WG SEPARATED,CRASHED IN GULF.1 PAX MISSING.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8602W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8602W-2017-11-21), registration cancelled 2017-11-21, S/N 28-10116, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (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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