# NTSB FTW80FRA22: Piper PA-32R, N43829, Houston, TX, April 2, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 2, 1980
- Place: Houston, TX · HOUSTON, TX
- Location: 29.7633° N, 95.3633° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Houston, TX, within about 14 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7633&lon=-95.3633&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 15, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132012
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FRA22
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FRA22

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0566   80/4/2    HOUSTON,TX          PIPER PA-32R        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1858                    N43829              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 30, 710 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            7 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HOBBY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BATON ROUGE,LA              HOUSTON,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               100
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- ILS APCH.CRASHED SHORT OF RWY.RVR 2200FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43829](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43829-2017-03-15), registration cancelled 2017-03-15, S/N 32R-7780527, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Hobby

## 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 19800402007699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800402007699A), Apr 2, 1980: Piper PA32R300, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Impacted ground,short of runway,on ILS approach. Saw approach lights prior to impact. Failed to monitor altitude.

## Other investigations on N43829 (1)

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 CEN15FA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA342), Aug 10, 2015: Piper PA 32R-300 (N43829), Harbor Springs, MI, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the trees during the approach in dark, night conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into trees and terrain.

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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