# NTSB FTW74DRG31: Piper PA-32, N56080, Corpus Christ, TX, October 10, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 10, 1973
- Place: Corpus Christ, TX · CORPUS CHRIST, TX
- Location: 27.8006° N, 97.3964° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Corpus Christi, TX, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.8006&lon=-97.3964&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 5, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188306
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW74DRG31
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74DRG31

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3199  73/10/10 NR.CORPUS CHRIST,TEX  PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 2240
        TIME - 2030                    N56080              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 88 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          REFUGIO,TEX                 LEXINGTON,KY                UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        REMARKS- PLT DISCLOSED HE BECAME SICK-DISORIENTED-CONFUSED WHILE IN TURN HEADING TO SHORE.ACFT STRUCK WATER
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56080](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56080-1973-12-19), registration cancelled 1973-12-19, S/N 32-7340156, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (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 19731010035259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731010035259A), Oct 10, 1973: Piper PA32RT300, Corpus Christ, TX, Destroyed. Plt disclosed he became sick-disoriented-confused while in turn heading to shore. Acft struck water

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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