# NTSB FTW82DA243: Piper PA-32-300, N1351H, Grants, NM, June 22, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: June 21, 1982, 23:00 local (Jun 22, 1982, 05:00 UTC)
- Place: Grants, NM
- Coordinates: 35.149669, -107.829406 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1497&lon=-107.8294&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 21, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70887
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82DA243
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70887/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DA243

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - fatigue, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS VERY TIRED AND FELL ASLEEP WHILE DESCENDING TO 7500 FT MSL IN THE VICINITY OF GRANTS, NM. REPORTEDLY, THE NEXT THING HE REMEMBERED WAS THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTING THE GROUND, BOUNCING, AND THEN COMING TO A STOP. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT FROM THE POINT OF INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED ABOUT 462 FT BEFORE THE RIGHT GEAR SHEARED OFF. THE GEAR SEPARATED WHEN IT CONTACTED A GOPHER HOLE. AFTER THE GEAR SEPARATED, THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED AN ADDITIONAL 138 FT. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND IN THE 10 DEGREE DOWN POSITION. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 6720 FT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER OR NOSE GEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1351H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1351H-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N 32-7740034 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7740034
- Airframe hours: 1530
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Aladdin Aviation
- Registered owner: William Hadley
- Departed: LAS VEGAS, NV
- Destination: ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Airport: GNT, Grants/Milam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 510 total, 18 in this make and model, 433 as pilot in command, 133 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 140 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19820621025559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820621025559A), Jun 21, 1982: Piper PA32300, Grants, NM, Substantial damage. Pilot claims he fell asleep and aircraft crashed. Law enforcement officials indicate illegal operation.

## Other investigations on N1351H (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 NYC04CA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA205), Sep 5, 2004: Piper PA32-300 (N1351H), Montauk, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain altitude\clearance while landing. A factor in this accident was the gusty wind conditions.

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.