# NTSB LAX81DUG13: Piper PA-32, N47831, Salton Sea, CA, February 14, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 14, 1981
- Place: Salton Sea, CA · SALTON SEA, CA
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127180
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DUG13
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DUG13

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0136  81/2/14    SALTON SEA,CA       PIPER PA-32         CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             CERTIFICATE UNKNOWN, AGE
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N47831              PX-  0  0  0  UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED      UNK/NR, UNK/NR TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   UNK/NR INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LA VERN,CA                 UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - STOLEN OR UNAUTH=
        REMARKS- STOLEN ACFT FOUND ABANDONED IN DESERT.INJURY INDEX PRESUMED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47831](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47831-2020-02-20), registration cancelled 2020-02-20, S/N 32-7840014, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- 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 19810214005459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810214005459A), Feb 14, 1981: Piper PA32300, North Shore, CA, Substantial damage. Crash-landed in desert. Airplane had been stolen by unknown party.

## Other investigations on N47831 (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 ERA18FA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA016), Nov 8, 2017: Piper PA 32 (N47831), Morrison, TN, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilots' loss of control during a missed approach in night instrument meteorological conditions as a result of spatial disorientation.

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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