# NTSB FTW80AA057: Piper PA-31, N59932, Houston, TX, March 21, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 21, 1980
- Place: Houston, TX · HOUSTON, TX
- Location: 29.7633° N, 95.3633° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Houston, TX, within about 14 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7633&lon=-95.3633&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 1980
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131638
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80AA057
- Board report AAR8104 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8104.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80AA057

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2207  80/3/21    HOUSTON,TX          PIPER PA-31         CR-  2  0  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1949                    N59932              PX-  5  3  0  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      33, 4313 TOTAL HOURS, 831
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WILLIAM P.HOBBY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          HOUSTON,TX                  BROWNWOOD,TX                 DALLAS/FT.WORTH,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
          MISC-ACFT MARGINAL SINGLE-ENG PERFORMANCE CPBLTY
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PLT FAILED TO LND IMMEDLY OR PROPERLY CONF ACFT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59932](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59932-2012-08-30), registration cancelled 2012-08-30, S/N 31-7552046, built 1975 (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: William P.Hobby

## 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 19800321007039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800321007039A), Mar 21, 1980: Piper PA31350, Houston, TX, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Overloaded. Lost engine. No emergency procedures. Downwind turn into dead engine. Hit vehicles on ramp.

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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