# NTSB LAX81FA061: Piper PA-28, N8274B, Tucson, AZ, March 18, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 18, 1981
- Place: Tucson, AZ · TUCSON, AZ
- Location: 32.2217° N, 110.9265° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tucson, AZ, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2217&lon=-110.9265&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 17, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126629
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA061
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA061

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3417  81/3/18    TUCSON,AZ           CESSNA 182          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 55, 3000
        TIME - 0924                    N8468S              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 600 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  2  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PHOENIX,AZ                  TUCSON,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - APPROACH CONTROL LANDING            RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - CONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO                                   EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - OPERATING
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3417  81/3/18    TUCSON,AZ           PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 27, 210
        TIME - 0924                    N8274B              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  1                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RYAN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TUCSON,AZ                   DOUGLAS,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO                                   EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- AIRCRAFT PARTS DEALER.11SEC AFT N8274B ACKNOWLEDGED AN ASSIGNED TRANSPONDER CODE MAYDAY CALL RECD.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N8274B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8274B-2011-07-20), registration cancelled 2011-07-20, S/N 28-8190051, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Ryan

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N8468S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8468S-1984-07-03), registration cancelled 1984-07-03, S/N 18256568 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182h) (registry code 2072718) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810318089471A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810318089471A), Mar 18, 1981: Piper PA28181, Tucson, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Collided with a descending aircraft, N8468S while climbing to cruise. Had just contacted ATC. Alcohol indicated.
- [Accident 19810318089472A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810318089472A), Mar 18, 1981: Cessna 182H, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. Collided with a climbing aircraft N8274B during radar vector descent for landing. Impact tore off nose gear.

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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