# NTSB FTW81FQA36: Piper PA-28, N1791J, Albuquerque, NM, July 11, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 11, 1981
- Place: Albuquerque, NM · ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Location: 35.0845° N, 106.6511° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albuquerque, NM, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0845&lon=-106.6511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 10, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124917
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FQA36
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FQA36

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1356  81/7/11    ALBUQUERQUE,NM      PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 54, 258
        TIME - 1008                    N1791J              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 176 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ALBUQUERQUE INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ALBUQUERQUE,NM              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: OTHER
        WEATHER BRIEFING - SELF-HELP,PILOT CHECKED WEATHER DATA
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      76
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ENCTRD ROUGH TRRN SHORT OF RWY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1791J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1791J-1983-01-15), registration cancelled 1983-01-15, S/N 28-24215 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Albuquerque Intl

## 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 19810711041769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810711041769A), Jul 11, 1981: Piper PA28140, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Pilot claims downdraft caused aircraft to sink and crash short of runway.

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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