# NTSB FTW75AF021: Piper PA-24, N8062P, Sierra Blanca, TX, September 17, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 17, 1974
- Place: Sierra Blanca, TX · SIERRA BLANCA, TX
- Location: 31.1834° N, 105.3395° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sierra Blanca, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1834&lon=-105.3395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 11, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136649
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW75AF021
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75AF021

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3069  74/9/17  NR.SIERRA BLANCA,TEX  PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 47, 600
        TIME - 1850                    N8062P              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 200 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EL PASO,TEX                 FT STOCKTON,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       51
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- NON-INSTRMNT RTD PLT ATTMPTD DSCNT THRU OVRCST ON DRK NITE OVR DESERT AREA-WAS TOLD VFR NOT ADVSD-
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8062P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8062P-1974-10-09), registration cancelled 1974-10-09, S/N 24-3309 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24) (registry code 7102402) (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 19740917034199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740917034199A), Sep 17, 1974: Piper PA24400, Sierra Blanca, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Non-instrmnt rtd plt attmptd dscnt thru ovrcst on drk nite ovr desert area-was told VFR not advsd-

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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