# NTSB FTW73AF031: Piper PA-28, N9677W, Grand Prairie, TX, December 20, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 20, 1972
- Place: Grand Prairie, TX · GRAND PRAIRIE, TX
- Location: 32.7460° N, 96.9978° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grand Prairie, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7460&lon=-96.9978&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169331
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73AF031
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73AF031

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3750  72/12/20   GRAND PRAIRIE,TEX   PIPER PA-28         CR-  2  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 225
        TIME - 0455                    N9677W              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GRAND PRAIRIE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GRAND PRAIRIE,TEX           MIDLAND,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER CONSIDERABLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      BELOW MINIMUMS
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- LOST CTL SHORTLY AFTER TKOF.RECOVERED SAME DATE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9677W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9677W-1973-06-27), registration cancelled 1973-06-27, S/N 28-23144, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Grand Prairie

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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