# NTSB FTW82FA025: Piper PA-28, N43981, Ruidoso, NM, November 27, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: November 27, 1981
- Place: Ruidoso, NM · RUIDOSO, NM
- Location: 33.3495° N, 105.6688° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ruidoso, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3495&lon=-105.6688&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 17, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123049
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82FA025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FA025

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3128  81/11/27   RUIDOSO,NM          PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 47, 412
        TIME - 0956                    N43981              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EL PASO,TX                  RUIDOSO,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - WEATHER SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN FORECAST
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  0
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          BLOWING SNOW                                             IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N43981 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- 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 19811127078399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811127078399A), Nov 27, 1981: Piper PA28181, Ruidoso, NM, Destroyed. Student pilot overcome by carbon monoxide while descending in snowshower area in mountain terrain. Source unknown.

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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