# NTSB FTW80FA103: Piper PA-28R, N47988, Lovington, NM, August 11, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 11, 1980
- Place: Lovington, NM · LOVINGTON, NM
- Location: 32.9445° N, 103.3492° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lovington, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9445&lon=-103.3492&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 11, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129145
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FA103
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FA103

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2298  80/8/11  NR.LOVINGTON,NM       PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 22, 915
        TIME - 2230                    N47988              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-CARGO            TOTAL HOURS, 15 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOBBS,NM                    ROSWELL,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    2500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                      DRIZZLE, RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      61
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          160                                                       4
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- CRASHED IN ISOLATED UNLIT AREA AT NIGHT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47988](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47988-1982-08-23), registration cancelled 1982-08-23, S/N 28R-7803053 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (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 19800811035829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800811035829A), Aug 11, 1980: Piper PA28R201T, Roswell, NM, No 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.

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