# NTSB FTW73FPD25: Piper PA-28, N5591F, Comanche, TX, March 13, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: March 13, 1973
- Place: Comanche, TX · COMANCHE, TX
- Location: 31.9005° N, 98.6044° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Comanche, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9005&lon=-98.6044&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 18, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170437
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73FPD25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73FPD25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0543  73/3/13    COMANCHE,TEX        PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 256
        TIME - 0230                    N5591F              PX-  0  0  2  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 100 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FT WORTH,TEX                BROWNWOOD,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     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 - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     280
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- DRG ATMPT TO REMAIN VFR ACFT HIT TREE ON TOP OF HILL.PLT MEDICAL CERT NOT VALID FOR NIGHT FLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5591F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- 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 19730313005639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730313005639A), Mar 13, 1973: Piper PA28R200, Comanche, TX, Destroyed. Drg atmpt to remain VFR acft hit tree on top of hill. Plt medical cert not valid for night flt.

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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