# NTSB LAX81FVG32: Piper PA-25, N7469Z, Durham, CA, May 14, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 14, 1981
- Place: Durham, CA · DURHAM, CA
- Location: 39.6463° N, 121.8000° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Durham, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6463&lon=-121.8000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 24, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126010
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FVG32
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FVG32

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1000  81/5/14    DURHAM,CA           PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 24, 471
        TIME - 1600                    N7469Z              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 169 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - STARKEYS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DURHAM,CA                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: VALVE ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CARBON DEPOSITS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - STICKING
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - JETTISONED LOAD
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  170                       KIND OF OPERATION - FERTILIZING (DUST)
          KIND OF CROP - RICE                                      TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - NOT AVAILABLE
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  200                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        REMARKS- #2 CYL EXHAUST VALVE STUCK IN OPEN POSITION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7469Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7469Z-1999-10-14), registration cancelled 1999-10-14, S/N 25-3471 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25
- Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Starkeys

## 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 19810514026249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810514026249A), May 14, 1981: Piper PA25235, Durham, CA, Substantial damage. Engine quit on takeoff. Landed in flooded rice field. Nosed over. Found loss of compression from stuck valve.

## Other investigations on N7469Z (1)

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 FTW96LA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA323), Jul 27, 1996: Piper PA-25-235 (N7469Z), Moriarity, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to refuel. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing.

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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