# NTSB FTW78FA017: Piper PA-24, N7126P, Kerrville, TX, December 11, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 11, 1977
- Place: Kerrville, TX · KERRVILLE, TX
- Location: 30.0383° N, 99.1311° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kerrville, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0383&lon=-99.1311&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143875
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78FA017
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FA017

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4103  77/12/11 NR.KERRVILLE,TX       PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 4065
        TIME - 2224                    N7126P              PX-  2  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 200 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - KERRVILLE MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WINTERS,TX                  SAN ANTONIO,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - COMMUNICATIONS FAILURE
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
                                  LOW ON FUEL
                                  SUSPECTED MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       51
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           60                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          BELOW MINIMUMS                                           IFR
        REMARKS- CAUSE OF COMM FAILURE UNK.FLEW INTO OBSCURED MTN SLOPE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7126P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7126P-2014-12-02), registration cancelled 2014-12-02, S/N 24-2288, built 1961 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Kerrville Muni

## 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 19771211041319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771211041319A), Dec 11, 1977: Piper PA24250, Kerrville, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Cause of comm failure unk. Flew into obscured mtn slope.

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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