# NTSB FTW81FA027: Piper PA-23, N63900, Odessa, TX, February 4, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 4, 1981
- Place: Odessa, TX · ODESSA, TX
- Location: 31.8457° N, 102.3676° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Odessa, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8457&lon=-102.3676&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126527
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA027
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA027

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1995   81/2/4  NR.ODESSA,TX          PIPER PA-23         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 0105                    N63900              PX-  1  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 31, 1800 TOTAL HOURS, 100
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EL PASO,TX                 ODESSA,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES - FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS: DIRECTIONAL GYRO
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ERRATIC
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      41
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          160                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ACFT HAD PRECESSING HSI. PLT HAD SINUS PROBLEM.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63900](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63900-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 27-7854046, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (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: Destroyed
- Airport: Schlemeyer

## 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 19810204002719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810204002719A), Feb 4, 1981: Piper PA23250, Odessa, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. High speed power on ground impact. Pilot had suffered sinus and vertigo attacks. Proceeded VFR in IMC.

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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