# NTSB FTW74AF022: Piper PA-23, N3188P, Liberty, TX, October 12, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 12, 1973
- Place: Liberty, TX · LIBERTY, TX
- Location: 30.0580° N, 94.7955° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Liberty, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0580&lon=-94.7955&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 18, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188149
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW74AF022
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74AF022

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3309  73/10/12 NR.LIBERTY,TEX        PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 61, 823
        TIME - 1230                    N3188P              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 197 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SEGUIN,TEX                  GULFPORT,MISS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                            RAIN SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO ENROUTE TSTM. AFT FUSELAGE & TAIL SEPARATED IN FLT.RPTD 11000 FT.NO OXYGEN SYSTEM ABD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3188P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3188P-1974-01-14), registration cancelled 1974-01-14, S/N 23-1125 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23) (registry code 7102302) (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 19731012037439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731012037439A), Oct 12, 1973: Piper PA23, Liberty, TX, Destroyed. Flew into enroute tstm. Aft fuselage & tail separated in flt. Rptd 11000 ft. no oxygen system abd.

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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