# NTSB FTW81FA072: Piper PA-12, N2851M, Port O'Connor, TX, April 17, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: April 17, 1981
- Place: Port O'Connor, TX · PORT O'CONNOR, TX
- Location: 28.4460° N, 96.4201° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Port O'Connor, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4460&lon=-96.4201&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 17, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126326
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA072
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA072

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0870  81/4/17  NR.PORT O'CONNOR,TX   PIPER PA-12         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 625
        TIME - 1600                    N2851M              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MATAGORDA ISL AFB
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          VICTORIA,TX                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 2500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      75
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          130                                                       17
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- WND ON BEACH RPTD 25-40 KTS. PLT TRYING TO LAND ON BEACH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2851M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2851M-2013-07-09), registration cancelled 2013-07-09, S/N 12-1189, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-12
- Registry model: [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12) (registry code 7101202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Matagorda Isl Afb

## 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 19810417020579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810417020579A), Apr 17, 1981: Piper PA12, Port Oconnor, TX, Destroyed. Near vertical impact on a beach near an abandoned afb runway. May have been stunting at a low altitude.

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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