# NTSB LAX81DAMS2: Piper PA-24, N5731P, Missing Aircraft, February 3, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 3, 1981
- Place: Missing Aircraft · MISSING AIRCRAFT, UN
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126532
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DAMS2
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DAMS2

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2396   81/2/3    MISSING AIRCRAFT    PIPER PA-24         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 48, 20800
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N5731P              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MONTEREY,CA                 FIREBAUGH,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           MISSING AIRCRAFT,NOT RECOVERED                           UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        REMARKS- ACFT DMG & INJURY INDEX PRESUMED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5731P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5731P-1985-09-13), registration cancelled 1985-09-13, S/N 24-805 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (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 19810203004249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810203004249A), Feb 3, 1981: Piper PA24250, Ft Ord, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Report indicates pilot lost control on night light in marginal VFR to IFR conditions. Near vertical impact.

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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