# NTSB DEN82FA020: Piper PA-31T, N91TW, Delta, UT, January 17, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 17, 1982, 14:35 local (21:35 UTC)
- Place: Delta, UT
- Coordinates: 39.289287, -112.559097 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2893&lon=-112.5591&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 17, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70452
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82FA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70452/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82FA020

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - door,cargo/baggage - unlocked (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - door,cargo/baggage - open (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft performance - deteriorated (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)

## Analysis

APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MI FROM THE ARPT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT NOTICED THE LEFT FRONT BAGGAGE DOOR PARTLY OPEN & MADE A LEFT TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRSTRIP. AFTER THE TURN, THE BAGGAGE DOOR CAME COMPLETELY OPEN, THE LEFT WING DROPPED IMMEDIATELY & THE ACFT STALLED. THE PLT ADDED FULL POWER & LOWERED THE NOSE. WHEN HE RAISED THE NOSE NEAR THE GROUND, THE ACFT SHUDDERED & CRASHED. TWO RESCUE PERSONNEL, BOTH CERTIFICATED PILOTS, ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT & FOUND THE NOSE BAGGAGE DOOR IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION WITH THE BAYONET PINS RETRACTED. A PIPER REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT IF THE LEFT SIDE NOSE BAGGAGE DOOR OF A PA-31T OPENED IN FLT THERE WOULD BE THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN INTERRUPTION TO THE SMOOTH AIRFLOW THROUGH THE PROP, POSSIBLY REDUCING THE THRUST PRODUCED BY THE BLADES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N91TW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31T-7820078
- Airframe hours: 340
- Engines: P & W PT6A-28 620 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Derral Christensen
- Registered owner: Derral Christensen
- Departed: DELTA, UT
- Destination: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,000 total, 520 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 122 °F
- Observed at: DTA, 1 nm away

## 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 19820117002259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820117002259A), Jan 17, 1982: Piper PA31T, Delta, UT, Destroyed. Forward nose baggage door opened during initial climb causing loss of flying speed and subsequent crash.

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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