# NTSB LAX80FUJ52: Piper PA-32R, N38352, Needles, CA, May 1, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 1, 1980
- Place: Needles, CA · NEEDLES, CA
- Location: 34.8136° N, 114.6266° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Needles, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8136&lon=-114.6266&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 17, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130636
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FUJ52
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FUJ52

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2709   80/5/1    NEEDLES,CA          PIPER PA-32R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 42, 374
        TIME - 1204                    N38352              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 37 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LIVERMORE,CA                ALBUQUERQUE,NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  6000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      71
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       9
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- NEEDLES 1150MST WX.SEARCH PLANE REPORTED 2500FT AGL CIG,RAIN APRX 1300MST.4 DOGS,GAME FOWL ONBOARD
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38352](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38352-1982-03-26), registration cancelled 1982-03-26, S/N 32R7780418, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19800501012579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800501012579A), May 1, 1980: Piper PA32R300, Needles, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Airplane was observed in a steep nose down spiral left wing failed prior to ground impact. Unknown loss of control

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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