# NTSB FTW78FA086: Piper PA-28, N1853H, Richland Hills, TX, September 28, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 28, 1978
- Place: Richland Hills, TX · RICHLAND HILLS, TX
- Location: 32.8102° N, 97.2265° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Richland Hills, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8102&lon=-97.2265&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 20, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138469
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78FA086
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FA086

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3856  78/9/28  NR.RICHLAND HILLS,TX  PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1645                    N47979              PX-  0  0  0  DUAL                      AGE 53, 4002 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  3  0  0                            1825 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MANGHAM
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         RICHLAND HILLS,TX            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           DUAL STUDENT - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CREW COORDINATION-POOR
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - RADAR SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO                                   EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - YES
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
        REMARKS- DUAL STUDENT FAILED TO NOTIFY INSTRUCTOR OF OTHER ORSERVED TRAFFIC.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3856  78/9/28  NR.RICHLAND HILLS,TX  PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 80 TOTAL
        TIME - 1645                    N1853H              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 5 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  2                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MANGHAM
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GIDDINGS,TX                RICHLAND HILLS,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POORLY PLANNED APPROACH
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALTIMETER SETTING-INCORRECT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - RADAR SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO                                   EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - OPERATING
        REMARKS- FLEW LOWER THAN NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN ALTITUDE.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N1853H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1853H-1981-03-11), registration cancelled 1981-03-11, S/N 28-7790347, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Mangham

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N47979](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47979-2014-01-06), registration cancelled 2014-01-06, S/N 28-7816175, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Mangham

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19780928040092A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780928040092A), Sep 28, 1978: Piper PA28R200, Richland Hills, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew lower than normal traffic pattern altitude.
- [Accident 19780928040091A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780928040091A), Sep 28, 1978: Piper PA28160, Richland Hills, TX, Substantial damage. Dual student failed to notify instructor of other orserved traffi

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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