# NTSB FTW81FA034: Piper PA-28, N2143D, Bandera, TX, February 13, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 13, 1981
- Place: Bandera, TX · BANDERA, TX
- Location: 29.7251° N, 99.0743° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bandera, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7251&lon=-99.0743&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 5 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 20, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127332
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA034
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA034

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0200  81/2/13    BANDERA,TX          PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 31, 1200
        TIME - 1335                    N2143D              PX-  4  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PEARSALL,TX                 EL RENO,OK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  0
        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
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2143D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2143D-1981-10-02), registration cancelled 1981-10-02, S/N 28-7990160, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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 19810213003859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810213003859A), Feb 13, 1981: Piper PA28181, Bandera, TX, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Flew into area of low ceiling & dense fog. Struck hillside. Was advised to detour hilly area due to 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.

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