# NTSB FTW81FA083: Piper PA-31, N3544J, Hammond, TX, May 1, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 1, 1981
- Place: Hammond, TX · HAMMOND, TX
- Location: 31.0952° N, 96.7139° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hammond, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0952&lon=-96.7139&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125371
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA083
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA083

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3163   81/5/1  NR.HAMMOND,TX         PIPER PA-31         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 2200
        TIME - 0726                    N3544J              PX-  2  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOUSTON,TX                  MINERAL WELLS,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - FOG
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       70
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          220                                                       4
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3544J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3544J-1983-04-28), registration cancelled 1983-04-28, S/N 31-8012004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31) (registry code 7103103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810501021089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810501021089A), May 1, 1981: Piper PA31310, Hammond, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft crashed during storm passage. Witnesses stated black clouds were in area at time of 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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