# NTSB FTW73AF038: Piper PA-28R, N490CC, Whiteface, TX, January 20, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 20, 1973
- Place: Whiteface, TX · WHITEFACE, TX
- Location: 33.5996° N, 102.6134° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Whiteface, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5996&lon=-102.6134&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 5, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169556
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73AF038
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73AF038

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0115  73/1/20    WHITEFACE,TEX       PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             STUDENT, AGE 30, 46 TOTAL
        TIME - 1831                    N490CC              PX-  0  0  0  SOLO                      HOURS, 17 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROSWELL,N MEX               LUBBOCK,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           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
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: OTHER
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    2300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     140
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           9                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- INADQT WX BRFG.NIGHT FLT NOT AUZD.RCVRD 1/21/73.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N490CC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N490CC-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 28R35675 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19730120001319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730120001319A), Jan 20, 1973: Piper PA28R200, Whiteface, TX, Destroyed. Inadqt wx brfg. Night flt not auzd. Rcvrd 1/21/73.

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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