# NTSB FTW81FQA35: Piper PA-28, N8399Z, Pecos, NM, June 10, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: June 10, 1981
- Place: Pecos, NM · PECOS, NM
- Location: 35.5757° N, 105.6784° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pecos, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5757&lon=-105.6784&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 10, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125703
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FQA35
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FQA35

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1357  81/6/10  NR.PECOS,NM           PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  1  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1800                    N8399Z              PX-  0  1  0  FERRY                     AGE 48, 6566 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            500 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LUBBOCK,TX                  SANTA FE,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      91
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          360                                                       5
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ACFT OBSD DEPG UP CANYON W RISING TRRN AFTER LOW PASS OVR HOUSE.D/A 10400FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8399Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8399Z-1981-09-15), registration cancelled 1981-09-15, S/N 28-8116247 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (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 19810610032239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810610032239A), Jun 10, 1981: Piper PA28161, Pecos, NM, Substantial damage. Buzzed a homesite in a high valley, then tried to fly up a canyon. Struck trees on rising 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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