# NTSB LAX81FA095: Piper PA-18, N4711A, Holtville, CA, May 31, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 31, 1981
- Place: Holtville, CA · HOLTVILLE, CA
- Location: 32.8138° N, 115.3783° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Holtville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8138&lon=-115.3783&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 6, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125490
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA095
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA095

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1180  81/5/31  NR.HOLTVILLE,CA       PIPER PA-18         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 28, 251
        TIME - 1644                    N4711A              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
          IMPERIAL,CA                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4711A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4711A-2012-12-11), registration cancelled 2012-12-11, S/N 18-4929, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, 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 19810531053609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810531053609A), May 31, 1981: Piper PA18, Holtville, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into power-lines. Crashed and burned.

## Other investigations on N4711A (2)

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 LAX75DUM26](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX75DUM26), May 17, 1975: Piper PA-18 (N4711A), Imperial, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB LAX75DUM11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX75DUM11), Nov 25, 1974: Piper PA-18 (N4711A), Imperial, CA, substantial damage

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.