# NTSB ATL80FA092: Piper PA-31, N6702L, Culpeper, VA, September 10, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 10, 1980
- Place: Culpeper, VA · CULPEPER, VA
- Location: 38.4703° N, 77.9998° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Culpeper, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4703&lon=-77.9998&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128364
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL80FA092
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL80FA092

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2870  80/9/10    CULPEPER,VA         PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0530                    N6702L              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            AGE 47, 4601 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            223 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CULPEPER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          CULPEPER,VA                 BALTIMORE,MD                 CHANTILLY,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- CRASHED DRG EARLY MORNING WHILE STILL DARK.R ENG FND SHUTDWN & FEATHERED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6702L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6702L-1983-01-25), registration cancelled 1983-01-25, S/N 31-592 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31) (registry code 7103103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Culpeper

## 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 19800910078579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800910078579A), Sep 10, 1980: Piper PA31, Culpeper, VA, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed right after takeoff. Investigation revealed right fuel was shut off.

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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