# NTSB MKC73AK046: Piper PA-32, N5263S, Great Bend, KS, December 23, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 23, 1972
- Place: Great Bend, KS · GREAT BEND, KS
- Location: 38.3587° N, 98.7989° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Great Bend, KS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3587&lon=-98.7989&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 17, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169176
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC73AK046
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC73AK046

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4083  72/12/23   GREAT BEND,KANS     PIPER PA-32         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 34, 150
        TIME - 1655                    N5263S              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GREAT BEND
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GREAT BEND,KANS             DENVER,COLO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
           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                                                  800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     FREEZING DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       32
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          350                                                       18
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ENTIRE AFT FUSELAGE SEPARATED IN FLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5263S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5263S-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 32-7140042, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Great Bend

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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