# NTSB FTW77FA072: Piper PA-24, N5209P, Canyon, TX, August 28, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 28, 1977
- Place: Canyon, TX · CANYON, TX
- Location: 34.9903° N, 101.9190° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Canyon, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9903&lon=-101.9190&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 3, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145505
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW77FA072
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW77FA072

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4175  77/8/28    CANYON,TX           PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 75, 1870
        TIME - 0945                    N5209P              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 870 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROSWELL,NM                  AMARILLO,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)
           PERSONNEL - WEATHER PERSONNEL: INCORRECT WEATHER FORECAST
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  300
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       65
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           70                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5209P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5209P-1977-12-28), registration cancelled 1977-12-28, S/N 24234 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (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 19770828034109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770828034109A), Aug 28, 1977: Piper PA24250, Canyon, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal

## Other investigations on N5209P (2)

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 NYC68D0207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC68D0207), Sep 23, 1967: Piper PA-24 (N5209P), White Plains, NY, substantial damage
- [NTSB DEN65D0046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN65D0046), Mar 30, 1965: Piper PA-24 (N5209P), Taos, NM, 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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