# NTSB DCA82AA007: Piper PA-31, N41070, Durango, CO, December 31, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 31, 1981
- Place: Durango, CO · DURANGO, CO
- Location: 37.2645° N, 107.8741° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Durango, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2645&lon=-107.8741&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal, 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 27, 1982
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80044
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA82AA007
- Board report AAR8213 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8213.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA82AA007

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3684  81/12/31   DURANGO,CO          PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 2000                    N41070              PX-  3  2  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      33, 4900 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        1381 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DURANGO-LA PLATA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALBUQUERQUE,NM              DURANGO,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: MISSED APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          FOG                                                      CALM
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT FAILED TO EXECUTE SUCCESSFULLY A MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41070](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41070-2012-10-19), registration cancelled 2012-10-19, S/N 31-8253005, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Durango-La Plata

## 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 19811231000039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19811231000039A), Dec 31, 1981: Piper PA31350, Durango, CO, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Lost altitude and crashed after initiating a missed approach. Snow and fog a contributing factor. No engine problem

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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