# NTSB FTW81FA118: Piper PA-28R, N38853, Livingston, TX, July 7, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 7, 1981
- Place: Livingston, TX · LIVINGSTON, TX
- Location: 30.7100° N, 94.9379° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Livingston, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7100&lon=-94.9379&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 27, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123931
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FA118
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FA118

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2549   81/7/7  NR.LIVINGSTON,TX      PIPER PA-28R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 63, UNK/NR
        TIME - 1610                    N38853              PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          FT SMITH,AR                 HOUSTON,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE                                         IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: OTHER
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- AFT RCVG WX,PLT ASKED IF VCTRS AVBL,ATC APVD DEV ARND WX,VCTRS 7MIN LTR.WNGS SEP.BLD/ALCHL .068PCT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38853](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38853-1982-11-20), registration cancelled 1982-11-20, S/N 28R-7703279 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (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 19810707038709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810707038709A), Jul 7, 1981: Piper PA28*, Livingston, TX, Destroyed. Flew into area of thunderstorms. Vectors from ATC no help. Aircraft broke up in severe turbulence. Alcohol evidence

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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