# NTSB FTW80FA126: Piper PA-24, N7839P, Hot Springs, AR, September 29, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 29, 1980
- Place: Hot Springs, AR · HOT SPRINGS, AR
- Location: 34.5037° N, 93.0552° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hot Springs, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5037&lon=-93.0552&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127881
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FA126
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FA126

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3253  80/9/29    HOT SPRINGS,AR      PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1135                    N7839P              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 29, 738 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            32 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TULSA,OK                    BATON ROUGE,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS: ATTITUDE GYRO
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS: DIRECTIONAL GYRO
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ERRATIC
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               700
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          4 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       64
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          330                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
        REMARKS- PLT RPRTD MALFUNCTION OF DG & ATTITUDE IND.EMPENNAGE & BOTH OUTER WING PANELS SEPD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7839P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7839P-2014-11-19), registration cancelled 2014-11-19, S/N 24-3061, built 1962 (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

## 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 19800929045659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800929045659A), Sep 29, 1980: Piper PA24250, Hot Springs, AR, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Pilot exhibited heading control problems on IFR departure. Lost control en route. Airframe failure, over-stressed.

## Other investigations on N7839P (2)

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.

- [NTSB UNK69X0111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK69X0111), Feb 20, 1969: Piper PA-24 (N7839P), Santa Rosalia, Mexico, destroyed
- [NTSB LAX68D0190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX68D0190), Oct 18, 1967: Piper PA-24 (N7839P), Bermda Duns, CA, substantial 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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