# NTSB FTW81FA080: Piper PA-31, N124EA, Houston, TX, April 26, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 26, 1981
- 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: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 8 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 1, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126687
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA080
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA080

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0333  81/4/26    HOUSTON,TX          PIPER PA-31         CR-  0  0  2  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1745                    N124EA              PX-  0  1  7  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      32, 2927 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        1114 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HOBBY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOUSTON,TX                  AUSTIN,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           WHEELS-UP                                                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPERLY SERVICED AIRCRAFT (GROUND CREW)
           COPILOT - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL GRADE-IMPROPER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FAILURE OF TWO OR MORE ENGINES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - INTENTIONAL WHEELS-UP
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 2 ENGINES
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- REFUELED WITH JET A.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N124EA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: 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 19810426018659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810426018659A), Apr 26, 1981: Piper PA31350, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft made emergency landing just after takeoff. Line personnel added jet fuel by mistake.

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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