# NTSB LAX80FUM29: Piper PA-36, N9961P, Calipatria, CA, September 6, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 6, 1980
- Place: Calipatria, CA · CALIPATRIA, CA
- Location: 33.1687° N, 115.4856° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Calipatria, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1687&lon=-115.4856&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 9, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128659
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FUM29
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FUM29

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2827   80/9/6    CALIPATRIA,CA       PIPER PA-36         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1630                    N9961P              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 40, 11800 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 3500 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CALIPATRIA
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CALIPATRIA,CA               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
           COLLIDED WITH: DITCHES                                   LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOAD NOT JETTISONED
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          KIND OF OPERATION - DUSTING CROPS                        KIND OF CROP - OTHER
          TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-TOXIC               PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY
          GLOVES - NOT USED                                        GOGGLES - NOT USED
          CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED                            COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED
          CRASH BAR - INSTALLED                                    TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT
          TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT                                 ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  180
          SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- DUSTING SUGAR BEETS W SEVIN BAIT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9961P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9961P-1980-12-11), registration cancelled 1980-12-11, S/N 36-7560072 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-36
- Registry model: [Piper PA-36-285](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-285) (registry code 7103610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Calipatria

## 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 19800906078149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800906078149A), Sep 6, 1980: Piper PA36285, Calipatria, CA, Destroyed. Reported engine quit on spray run. Crashed. Burned. Cause unknown. Carb mags fuel control, destroyed by fire.

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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