# NTSB FTW76AF037: Piper PA-17, N4861H, Fabens, TX, October 25, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 25, 1975
- Place: Fabens, TX · FABENS, TX
- Location: 31.5175° N, 106.1351° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fabens, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5175&lon=-106.1351&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 21, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 151100
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW76AF037
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76AF037

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3223  75/10/25 NR.FABENS,TX          PIPER PA-17         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 55, 253
        TIME - 1640                    N4861H              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         FABENS,TX                    ALAMOGORDO,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INCAPACITATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT SUFFERED HEART ATTACK
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- AUTOPSY SHOWS PLT DIED OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE PRECEEDING THE ACDT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4861H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4861H-1975-12-05), registration cancelled 1975-12-05, S/N 17-161, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-17
- Registry model: [Piper PA-17](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-17) (registry code 7101702) (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 19751025034669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19751025034669A), Oct 25, 1975: Piper PA17, Fabens, TX, Destroyed. Autopsy shows plt died of coronary heart disease preceeding the 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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