# NTSB DCA80AA022: Piper PA-31, N5MS, Philadelphia, PA, July 25, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 25, 1980
- Place: Philadelphia, PA · PHILADELPHIA, PA
- Location: 39.9523° N, 75.1638° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Philadelphia, PA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9523&lon=-75.1638&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 27, 1981
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129307
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA80AA022
- Board report AAR8101 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8101.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA80AA022

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3484  80/7/25    PHILADELPHIA,PA     PIPER PA-31         CR-  2  0  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 0713                    N5MS                PX-  1  0  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      34, 3670 TOTAL HOURS, 117
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PHILADELPHIA INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          HAZELTON,PA                 PHILADELPHIA,PA              READING,PA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - VORTEX TURBULENCE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
        REMARKS- LOW FLAT VISUAL APPROACH 52SEC BEHIND B727.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5MS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Philadelphia Intl

## 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 19800725035529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800725035529A), Jul 25, 1980: Piper PA31350, Philadelphia, PA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Encountered wake turbulence on short final. Airplane rolled inverted. Dived into ground 300 feet short of runway.

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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