# NTSB LAX81FA052: Piper PA-22, N5916Z, Grand Canyon, AZ, March 1, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 1, 1981
- Place: Grand Canyon, AZ · GRAND CANYON, AZ
- Location: 36.0544° N, 112.1393° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grand Canyon, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0544&lon=-112.1393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 5, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126530
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA052
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA052

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2301   81/3/1  NR.GRAND CANYON,AZ    PIPER PA-22         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 51, 414
        TIME - 1930                    N5916Z              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 121 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SALT LAKE CITY,UT           MESA,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - TURBULENCE, ASSOCIATED W/CLOUDS AND/OR THUNDERSTORMS
           WEATHER - OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      SNOW SHOWERS, THUNDERSTORM
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          BLOWING SNOW                                              32
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          211                                                       21
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- STRUCK SIDE OF SANDSTONE BUTTE IN GRAND CANYON.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5916Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5916Z-1983-12-09), registration cancelled 1983-12-09, S/N 22-9783 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (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 19810301006739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810301006739A), Mar 1, 1981: Piper PA22108, Grand Canyon, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Was advised several times on weather check not to go VFR. Struck side of mountain. Dark night, snow showers in area

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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