# NTSB FTW78FA027: Cessna 340, N39L, Amarillo, TX, February 16, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 16, 1978
- Place: Amarillo, TX · AMARILLO, TX
- Location: 35.2220° N, 101.8313° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Amarillo, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2220&lon=-101.8313&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 4 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 6, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 158632
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78FA027
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FA027

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0345  78/2/16    AMARILLO,TX         CESSNA 340          CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 38, 1599
        TIME - 1349                    N39L                PX-  1  3  1  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 258 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ENID,OK                     AMARILLO,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - SNOW-COVERED
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              26
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          130                                                       12
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39L-1981-05-06), registration cancelled 1981-05-06, S/N 340-0210, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340
- Registry model: [Cessna 340](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340) (registry code 2076404) (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 19780216004819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780216004819A), Feb 16, 1978: Cessna 340CESSNA, Amarillo, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal

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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