# NTSB FTW74AF015: Piper PA-28, N16539, Salt Flat, TX, September 10, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 10, 1973
- Place: Salt Flat, TX · SALT FLAT, TX
- Location: 31.7437° N, 105.0927° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Salt Flat, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7437&lon=-105.0927&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188626
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW74AF015
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74AF015

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2772  73/9/10  NR.SALT FLAT,TEX      PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 23, 234
        TIME - 0903                    N16539              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 38 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TUCSON,ARIZ                 MIDLAND,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
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN/LOWER SCATTERED                                    2400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      67
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- MOUNTAIN TOPS OBSCURED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16539](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16539-2011-07-13), registration cancelled 2011-07-13, S/N 28-7305279, built 1973 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (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 19730910030529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730910030529A), Sep 10, 1973: Piper PA28R200, Salt Flat, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Mountain tops obscured.

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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