# NTSB DEN81FTE36: Piper PA-28, N9511C, Alamosa, CO, May 12, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: May 12, 1981
- Place: Alamosa, CO · ALAMOSA, CO
- Location: 37.4745° N, 105.8770° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Alamosa, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4745&lon=-105.8770&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 25, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125381
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTE36
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTE36

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3233  81/5/12  NR.ALAMOSA,CO         PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 18, 89 TOTAL
        TIME - 2200                    N9511C              PX-  0  0  3  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 25 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TRINIDAD,CO                 FARMINGTON,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- PLT STATED AWARE THAT MTNS OBSCRD IN ALAMOSA AREA,PLANNED FLT S,THEN W AND DIRECT DESTINATION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9511C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9511C-2013-05-23), registration cancelled 2013-05-23, S/N 28-7816486, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810512024389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810512024389A), May 12, 1981: Piper PA28161, Alamosa, CO, Destroyed. Pilot attempted night cross-country during inclement weather and crashed into mountain in snow-storm.

## Other investigations on N9511C (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN79DQA15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79DQA15), Feb 6, 1979: Piper PA-28 (N9511C), Aztec, NM, substantial damage

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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