# NTSB LAX81FA121: Piper PA-32R, N9822C, Grand Canyon, AZ, August 21, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 21, 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: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125118
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA121
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA121

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1786  81/8/21  NR.GRAND CANYON,AZ    PIPER PA-32R        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 47, 211
        TIME - 2130                    N9822C              PX-  5  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 28 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          LAWTON,OK                   LAS VEGAS,NV                 ALAMOSA,CO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          HAZE                                                      65
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- CRASHED DRG DSCNT ON DARK NGT,ELEV 7225FT MSL.RAIN & LIGHTNING OBSD IN VCNTY OF CRASH SITE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9822C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9822C-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N 32R-7885077, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300) (registry code 7103215) (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: Destroyed

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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