# NTSB DEN76AD072: Piper PA-31, N54294, Pinon, NM, September 19, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 19, 1976
- Place: Pinon, NM · PINON, NM
- Location: 32.6195° N, 105.3769° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pinon, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6195&lon=-105.3769&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 17, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156177
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN76AD072
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76AD072

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3903  76/9/19  NR.PINON,NM           PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 22,
        TIME - 0010                    N54294              PX-  1  0  0  OTHER                     UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED        UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- EVIDENCE OF LARGE AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA FOUND IN WRECKAGE. HIT TREES ON SECOND LOW PASS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54294](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54294-2013-05-10), registration cancelled 2013-05-10, S/N 31-7405231, built 1974 (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

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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