# NTSB FTW80FA021: Piper PA-28, N57329, Sonora, TX, December 15, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 15, 1979
- Place: Sonora, TX · SONORA, TX
- Location: 30.5707° N, 100.6418° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sonora, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5707&lon=-100.6418&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 23, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132955
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FA021
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FA021

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3113  79/12/15 NR.SONORA,TX          PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 25, 30 TOTAL
        TIME - 0005                    N57329              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 23 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PLANO,TX                   SONORA,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - STOLEN OR UNAUTH=
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      38
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          280                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- IP DENIED STUDENT PERMISSION FOR CROSS-COUNTRY DUE TO WX.STUDENT DEPARTED IN STOLEN ACFT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N57329](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57329-2012-08-27), registration cancelled 2012-08-27, S/N 28-7425093, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (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: 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 19791215036999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791215036999A), Dec 15, 1979: Piper PA28140, Sonora, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Student pilot & passenger took acft on night trip without authorization. Acft hit hill in adverse weather.

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.