# NTSB FTW73AF048: Piper PA-28, N7802N, Friona, TX, February 27, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 27, 1973
- Place: Friona, TX · FRIONA, TX
- Location: 34.6394° N, 102.7231° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Friona, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6394&lon=-102.7231&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 3, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170110
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73AF048
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73AF048

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0140  73/2/27    FRIONA,TEX          PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 35, 217
        TIME - 2255                    N7802N              PX-  3  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 3 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          MULESHOE,TEX                MULESHOE,TEX                 CANYON,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
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER CONSIDERABLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       45
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- WX DIDNT INDICATE LOW STRATUS CLOUD AND FOG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7802N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7802N-1973-06-27), registration cancelled 1973-06-27, S/N 28-5252 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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 19730227004509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730227004509A), Feb 27, 1973: Piper PA28180, Friona, TX, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Wx didnt indicate low stratus cloud and fog.

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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