# NTSB FTW82FRA21: Piper PA-32, N36497, Houston, TX, June 5, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: June 5, 1982, 07:00 local (12:00 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Location: 29.7633° N, 95.3633° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Houston, TX, within about 14 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7633&lon=-95.3633&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 5, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71095
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82FRA21
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71095/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FRA21

## Sequence of events

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

- Undetermined, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS FOUND IN A RICE FIELD ON 6/5/82. NARCOTICS WERE FOUND IN THE ACFT ALONG WITH A LARGE QUANTITY OF MONEY ON THE PILOT'S BODY. THE ACFT HAD N38312 PAINTED ON THE SIDE. THE ACFT WAS STOLEN IN ATLANTA, GA IN OCTOBER OF 1981.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N36497 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7103212
- Airframe hours: 844
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Southern Avia. Ins. Co.
- Registered owner: Southern Avia. Ins. Co.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; medical: unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 167 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19820605021349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820605021349A), Jun 5, 1982: Piper PA32*, Katy, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft wreckage strewn over large area of a rice field. Narcotics on board. Pilot not certificated airman.

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.