# NTSB LAX81FVD16: Piper PA-32R, N102EA, Petaluma, CA, March 11, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 11, 1981
- Place: Petaluma, CA · PETALUMA, CA
- Location: 38.2420° N, 122.6286° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Petaluma, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2420&lon=-122.6286&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 9, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126871
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FVD16
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FVD16

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0389  81/3/11    PETALUMA,CA         PIPER PA-32R        CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 35, 684
        TIME - 1600                    N102EA              PX-  0  0  3  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, 339 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SKY RANCH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          REDDING,CA                  PETALUMA,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        REMARKS- LANDED IN UNIMPROVED OVERRUN AREA 250 FT SHORT OF RUNWAY.NOSE GEAR HIT DIRT RIDGE AND COLLAPSED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N102EA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N102EA), registered now, S/N 32R-7680158, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Sky Ranch

## 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 19810311009139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810311009139A), Mar 11, 1981: Piper PA32R300, Petaluma, CA, Substantial damage. Low on final, failed to correct. Landed on over-run. Collapsed nose gear on rough ground.

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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