# NTSB FTW76AF024: Piper PA-28, N3576K, San Diego, TX, August 9, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 9, 1975
- Place: San Diego, TX · SAN DIEGO, TX
- Location: 27.7609° N, 98.2389° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Diego, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7609&lon=-98.2389&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 29, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 149991
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW76AF024
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76AF024

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3227   75/8/9  NR.SAN DIEGO,TX       PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 37, 7 TOTAL
        TIME - 0930                    N3576K              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 2 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HEARNE,TX                   ALICE,TX
        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 - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                       2500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       72
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          350                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- LOST CTL IN FOG. RECOVERY DATE 11/15/75.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3576K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3576K-1976-01-17), registration cancelled 1976-01-17, S/N 28-23634 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (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 19750809032569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750809032569A), Aug 9, 1975: Piper PA28140, Missing Aircraf, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Acft dmg & inj index presumed.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.
