# NTSB LAX73AL023: Piper PA-28, N5009S, Dragoon, AZ, December 5, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 5, 1972
- Place: Dragoon, AZ · DRAGOON, AZ
- Location: 32.0215° N, 110.0347° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dragoon, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0215&lon=-110.0347&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 16, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169169
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX73AL023
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73AL023

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4075   72/12/5   DRAGOON,ARIZ        PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 321
        TIME - 1515                    N5009S              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 75 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TUCSON,ARIZ                 EL PASO,TEX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      48
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          340                                                       13
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- MOUNTAIN TOPS ALONG OR NEAR PATH OBSCURED BY CLOUD.INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF EMPENNAGE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5009S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5009S-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 28R-35733, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Benson City,Ariz

## Other investigations on N5009S (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 FTW73FQD04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73FQD04), Aug 1, 1972: Piper PA-28 (N5009S), Fabens, TX, substantial damage

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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