# NTSB FTW76DPA23: Piper PA-39, N8895Y, Fairfield, TX, April 24, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 24, 1976
- Place: Fairfield, TX · FAIRFIELD, TX
- Location: 31.7174° N, 96.1705° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fairfield, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7174&lon=-96.1705&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 14, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 153354
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW76DPA23
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76DPA23

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0963  76/4/24    FAIRFIELD,TX        PIPER PA-39         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 21, 219
        TIME - 1730                    N8895Y              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 11 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LANCASTER,TX                CROCKETT,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           MISCELLANEOUS                                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: GO-AROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DELAYED IN INITIATING GO-AROUND
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           AIRFRAME - FUSELAGE: DOORS,DOOR FRAMES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY SECURED
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
                                  DOOR/PANEL OPEN
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      3000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      75
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          320                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- DODGING TSTM.DOOR OPENED,MAP BLEW OUT.UNSURE OF POS.LND IN FLD,GR HIT TREE.CONT,FURTHER DMG ON LDG
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8895Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8895Y), registered now, S/N 39-52 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-39
- Registry model: [Piper PA-39](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-39) (registry code 7103902) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19760424010009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760424010009A), Apr 24, 1976: Piper PA39, Fairfield, TX, Substantial damage. Dodging tstm. Door opened,map blew out. Unsure of pos. Lnd in fld,gr hit tree. Cont,further dmg on ldg

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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