# NTSB FTW76AF051: Piper PA-28R, N16479, Abernathy, TX, December 23, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 23, 1975
- Place: Abernathy, TX · ABERNATHY, TX
- Location: 33.8268° N, 101.8509° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Abernathy, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8268&lon=-101.8509&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 28, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 151694
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW76AF051
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76AF051

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3811  75/12/23   ABERNATHY,TX        PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 43, 550
        TIME - 1530                    N16479              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 400 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          IMPERIAL,NB                 BROWNFIELD,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 - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PERSONNEL - WEATHER PERSONNEL: INCORRECT WEATHER FORECAST
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              38
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16479](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16479-1976-05-13), registration cancelled 1976-05-13, S/N 28-7335152 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (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 19751223040299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19751223040299A), Dec 23, 1975: Piper PA28R200, Abernathy, TX, Destroyed

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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