# NTSB FTW77FQG35: Piper PA-24, N8481P, Sterling City, TX, May 8, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 8, 1977
- Place: Sterling City, TX · STERLING CITY, TX
- Location: 31.8392° N, 100.9859° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sterling City, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8392&lon=-100.9859&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 20, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 152423
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW77FQG35
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW77FQG35

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0865   77/5/8    STERLING CITY,TX    PIPER PA-24         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 5331
        TIME - 1900                    N8481P              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 900 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - O'BANION
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          STERLING CITY,TX            SNYDER,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: HIGH VEGETATION
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: POORLY MAINTAINED RUNWAY SURFACE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8481P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8481P), registered now, S/N 26-60, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-400) (registry code 7102408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-720 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-720-series) (registry code 41546, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: O'Banion

## 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 19770508011059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770508011059A), May 8, 1977: Piper PA24400, Sterling City, TX, 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.