# NTSB FTW75AF001: Piper PA-28, N40706, Beaumont, TX, July 1, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 1, 1974
- Place: Beaumont, TX · BEAUMONT, TX
- Location: 30.0860° N, 94.1018° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Beaumont, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0860&lon=-94.1018&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130137
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW75AF001
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75AF001

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2445   74/7/1    BEAUMONT,TEX        PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 24, 120
        TIME - 0503                    N40706              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOUSTON,TEX                 LAFAYETTE,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    2000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      THUNDERSTORM, RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      74
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          250                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- GENL DISINTEGRATION INFLT INCLUDING R WING OUTER PANEL & EMPENNAGE.LINE OF TSTMS RPTD VCNTY ACDT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40706](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40706-1974-09-11), registration cancelled 1974-09-11, S/N 287415072, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (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 19740701022529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740701022529A), Jul 1, 1974: Piper PA28R200, Beaumont, TX, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Genl disintegration inflt including r wing outer panel & empennage. Line of tstms rptd vcnty acdt.

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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