# NTSB FTW77FA004: Piper PA-23, N1434P, College Sta, TX, October 16, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 16, 1976
- Place: College Sta, TX · COLLEGE STA, TX
- Location: 30.6280° N, 96.3344° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of College Station, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6280&lon=-96.3344&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 9, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156482
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW77FA004
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW77FA004

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3303  76/10/16   COLLEGE STA,TX      PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 25,
        TIME - 0725                    N1434P              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          COLLEGE STA,TX              DALLAS,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/2 MILE OR LESS                                         RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       60
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          310                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- PLT HAD DIFFICULTIES NAVIGATING AFTR TKOF.PLT LOG BOOK NOT FOUND,INST TIME UNK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1434P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1434P-1977-02-11), registration cancelled 1977-02-11, S/N 23-492 (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

## 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 19761016039129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761016039129A), Oct 16, 1976: Piper PA23, College Sta, TX, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Plt had difficulties navigating aftr tkof. Plt log book not found,inst time unk.

## Other investigations on N1434P (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA73DLD80](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA73DLD80), May 14, 1973: Piper PA-23 (N1434P), Venice, FL, substantial damage

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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