# NTSB LAX78FA052: Piper PA-11, N5086H, Tonopah, AZ, May 30, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 30, 1978
- Place: Tonopah, AZ · TONOPAH, AZ
- Location: 33.4880° N, 112.9308° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tonopah, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4880&lon=-112.9308&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 24, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142062
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FA052
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FA052

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1933  78/5/30  NR.TONOPAH,AZ         PIPER PA-11         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 40, 3000
        TIME - 1940                    N5086H              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         TONOPAH,AZ                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIRAL                                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL .164%. IMPACTED HIGHWAY SURFACE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5086H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5086H-1994-12-27), registration cancelled 1994-12-27, S/N 11987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-11
- Registry model: [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (registry code 7101102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Highway

## 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 19780530022599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780530022599A), May 30, 1978: Piper PA11, Tonopah, AZ, Destroyed. Blood alcohol level .164 . Impacted Highway surface.

## Other investigations on N5086H (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 LAX67D0202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX67D0202), Nov 6, 1966: Piper PA-11 (N5086H), Buckeye, AZ, 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.

---
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.