# NTSB LAX81FUD01: Bellanca 17-31, N1281R, Santa Monica, CA, May 6, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 6, 1981
- Place: Santa Monica, CA · SANTA MONICA, CA
- Location: 34.0109° N, 118.4982° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Monica, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0109&lon=-118.4982&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 7, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125301
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FUD01
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FUD01

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2374   81/5/6    SANTA MONICA,CA     BELLANCA 17-31      CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1550                    N1281R              PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     31, 2905 TOTAL HOURS, 14
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTA PAULA,CA              CARLSBAD,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           DITCHING                                                 LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH WATER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
        REMARKS- DITCHED NR SHORE.ACFT WASHED ASHORE & POUNDED ON SURF.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1281R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-31
- 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 19810506023039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810506023039A), May 6, 1981: Blanca 1731ATC, Santa Monica, CA, Destroyed. Lost power, unable to make airport. Ditched in ocean near shore. Surf demolished airplane. Cause undetermined.

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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