# NTSB FTW74AF044: Piper PA-23, N14099, Weatherford, OK, December 18, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 18, 1973
- Place: Weatherford, OK · WEATHERFORD, OK
- Location: 35.5374° N, 98.6843° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Weatherford, OK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5374&lon=-98.6843&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187472
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW74AF044
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74AF044

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3971  73/12/18   WEATHERFORD,OKLA    PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1915                    N14099              PX-  1  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 AGE 29, 2130 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CLINTON,OKLA                OKMULGEE,OKLA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    1200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING DUST                                              38
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          340                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ATMTNG VFR FLT UNDER CLOUDS.DARK NIGHT.GUSTS TO 30KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14099](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14099-1974-03-07), registration cancelled 1974-03-07, S/N 27-4696 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (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 19731218042179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731218042179A), Dec 18, 1973: Piper PA23250, Weatherford, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Atmtng VFR flt under clouds. Dark night. Gusts to 30KTS.

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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