# NTSB LAX74AL014: Piper PA-28, N16454, Ruidoso, NM, August 13, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 13, 1973
- 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: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 15, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 189208
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX74AL014
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74AL014

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2442  73/8/13    RUIDOSO,N MEX       PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 31, 92 TOTAL
        TIME - 0834                    N16454              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BUIDOSO
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RUIDOSO,N MEX               TUCSON,ARIZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      70
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- TURNED INTO RISING TERRAIN AFTER TKOF.UN OUTCLIMB DUE NEAR MAX GROSS WT & DENSITY ALT APRX 9100 FT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16454](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16454-1973-11-15), registration cancelled 1973-11-15, S/N 287325277 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Buidoso

## 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 19730813029919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730813029919A), Aug 13, 1973: Piper PA28R200, Ruidoso, NM, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Turned into rising terrain after tkof. Un outclimb due near max gross wt & density alt aprx 9100 ft

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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