# NTSB FTW81FQA25: Piper PA-23, N5075Y, Taos, NM, April 20, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: April 20, 1981
- Place: Taos, NM · TAOS, NM
- Location: 36.3871° N, 105.5808° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Taos, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3871&lon=-105.5808&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 3, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126753
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FQA25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FQA25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0670  81/4/20    TAOS,NM             PIPER PA-23         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             CERTIFICATE UNKNOWN, AGE
        TIME - 1000                    N5075Y              PX-  0  0  0  UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED      UNK/NR, UNK/NR TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   UNK/NR INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - TAOS MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TAOS,NM                    UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           FIRE OR EXPLOSION: IN FLIGHT                             LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - *ERROR-INVALID CODE*
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FIRE IN ENGINE
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- PILOT DEPARTED SCENE AND HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5075Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5075Y-1982-11-26), registration cancelled 1982-11-26, S/N 272092 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Taos Muni

## 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 19810420017499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810420017499A), Apr 20, 1981: Piper PA23250, Taos, NM, Destroyed. Aircraft was observed on takeoff with engine on fire. Crash occurred when pilot attempted to return.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.