# NTSB LAX81FA067: Cessna 340, N24MH, Santa Maria, CA, March 25, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 25, 1981
- Place: Santa Maria, CA · SANTA MARIA, CA
- Location: 34.9331° N, 120.4436° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Maria, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9331&lon=-120.4436&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 15, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136434
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA067
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA067

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0534  81/3/25  NR.SANTA MARIA,CA     CESSNA 340          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 60, 2585
        TIME - 1118                    N24MH               PX-  0  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 245 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTA ANNA,CA               OAKLAND,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N24MH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24MH-2013-08-07), registration cancelled 2013-08-07, S/N 340-0169, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 340
- Registry model: [Cessna 340](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340) (registry code 2076404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (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 19810325012379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810325012379A), Mar 25, 1981: Cessna 340CESSNA, Santa Maria, CA, Destroyed. Witness saw airplane looping at a low altitude. Stalled and dived into ground after vertical pull-up.

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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