# NTSB DEN81FTE54: Piper PA-31, N27561, Walsenburg, CO, July 5, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 5, 1981
- Place: Walsenburg, CO · WALSENBURG, CO
- Location: 37.6306° N, 104.7817° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Walsenburg, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6306&lon=-104.7817&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124154
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTE54
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTE54

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3291   81/7/5    WALSENBURG,CO       PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 33, 2705
        TIME - 0600                    N27561              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 427 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - JOHNSON FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WALSENBURG,CO               ALBUQUERQUE,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLIDED WITH: DITCHES                                   LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27561](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27561-2012-09-21), registration cancelled 2012-09-21, S/N 31-7812049, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-325](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-325) (registry code 7103105) (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: Substantial damage
- Airport: Johnson Field

## 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 19810705037859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810705037859A), Jul 5, 1981: Piper PA31325, Walsenburg, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot made emergency landing one mile from airport after takeoff. He claimed gradual loss of power.

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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