# NTSB FTW73FPD31: Piper PA-28, N15683, Granbury, TX, April 17, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 17, 1973
- Place: Granbury, TX · GRANBURY, TX
- Location: 32.4484° N, 97.7701° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Granbury, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4484&lon=-97.7701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 25, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170582
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73FPD31
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73FPD31

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0926  73/4/17    GRANBURY,TEX        PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 24, 59 TOTAL
        TIME - 2015                    N15683              PX-  0  1  1  BUSINESS                  HOURS, 27 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GRANBURY MUN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          AUSTIN,TEX                  TULSA,OKLA
        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
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- APPRX 30 LBS MARIJUANA CONFISCATED BY LOCAL AUTH.ALL 3 PERS ABOARD ACFT CHARGED WITH POSSESSION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15683](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15683-1974-05-09), registration cancelled 1974-05-09, S/N 28-7305117 (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
- Airport: Granbury Mun

## 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 19730417009839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730417009839A), Apr 17, 1973: Piper PA28180, Granbury, TX, Destroyed. Apprx 30 lbs marijuana confiscated by local auth. All 3 pers aboard acft charged with possession.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.