# NTSB FTW81FQD22: Piper PA-28, N5781U, El Paso, TX, May 14, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 14, 1981
- Place: El Paso, TX · EL PASO, TX
- Location: 31.7587° N, 106.4869° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of El Paso, TX, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7587&lon=-106.4869&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126081
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FQD22
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FQD22

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0986  81/5/14    EL PASO,TX          PIPER PA-28         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 66, 9115
        TIME - 1456                    N5781U              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 115 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - EL PASO INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EL PASO,TX                  PHOENIX,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: VALVE ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CARBON DEPOSITS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LEAK/LEAKAGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOW COMPRESSION
           TERRAIN - SANDY
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- SAND DUNES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5781U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5781U-1982-08-26), registration cancelled 1982-08-26, S/N 28-26606 (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: Destroyed
- Airport: El Paso 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 19810514025239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810514025239A), May 14, 1981: Piper PA28140, El Paso, TX, Substantial damage. Unable to leave ground effect on takeoff. Struck san-dunes 2 miles from airport. Low compression, fouled plugs.

## Other investigations on N5781U (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA71FLD38](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA71FLD38), Dec 17, 1970: Piper PA-28 (N5781U), Vero Beach, FL, substantial damage

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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