# NTSB LAX80FVA23: Piper PA-31T, N26CA, Kettleman City, CA, March 12, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: March 12, 1980
- Place: Kettleman City, CA · KETTLEMAN CITY, CA
- Location: 36.0090° N, 119.9629° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kettleman City, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0090&lon=-119.9629&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 28, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 131647
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FVA23
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FVA23

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2582  80/3/12  NR.KETTLEMAN CITY,CA  PIPER PA-31T        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1615                    N26CA               PX-  0  0  1  BUSINESS                  AGE 50, 15870 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 401 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          AVENAL,CA                   LANCASTER,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - TURBINE ASSEMBLY: VANES,GUIDE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CORRODED/CORROSION
           POWERPLANT - TURBINE ASSEMBLY: BLADE,TURBINE WHEEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- TWO COMPRESSOR TURBINE VANES ERODED.THREE C/T BLADES FRACTURED & 4 CRACKED.SHUTDOWN PROC NOT FLWD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26CA-1993-10-20), registration cancelled 1993-10-20, S/N 31T7820062 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t) (registry code 7103124) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19800312005999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800312005999A), Mar 12, 1980: Piper PA31T, Kettleman City, CA, Substantial damage. Lost left engine. Saw smoke, failed to feather prop,actived fire bottle on right engine. Had compressor failure..

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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