# NTSB FTW75AF035: Piper PA-23, N1395P, Falfurrias, TX, November 17, 1974

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 17, 1974
- Place: Falfurrias, TX · FALFURRIAS, TX
- Location: 27.2244° N, 98.1452° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Falfurrias, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2244&lon=-98.1452&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143035
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW75AF035
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75AF035

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3758  74/11/17 NR.FALFURRIAS,TEX     PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 39, 11200
        TIME - 1945                    N1395P              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 100 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CAGE RANCH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SEGUIN,TEX                  MCALLEN,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 1300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          HAZE                                                      66
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           10                                                       3
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PLT CONTINUED FLT UNDER OVERCAST WITH LOWER CLOUDS ON DARK NITE.NO LTS.RECOVERY DATE 11/18/74.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1395P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1395P-1975-02-07), registration cancelled 1975-02-07, S/N 23-442 (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
- Airport: Cage Ranch

## 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 19741117041139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19741117041139A), Nov 17, 1974: Piper PA23, Falfurrias, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Plt continued flt under overcast with lower clouds on dark nite. No lts. Recovery date 11/18/74.

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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